Echites is a genus of flowering vines in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, within the order Gentianales. It was first described in 1756 by the botanist Patrick Browne in his Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, and is placed in the class Magnoliopsida among the flowering plants.
The genus is primarily native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and the US state of Florida, with individual species concentrated in localities such as Cuba, Costa Rica, Panama, the Yucatán Peninsula, and other Caribbean and Central American islands and mainland areas.
Taxonomically, Echites has a complicated history: over 500 species, subspecies, and variety names have been published under the genus over the centuries, but the great majority have since been reclassified as synonyms or moved into other genera. Recognized synonym genera in the GBIF backbone include Allotoonia, Echithes, and Fernaldia. Following modern revision, only 14 species are currently accepted within Echites in its Neotropical circumscription. A small number of older or unresolved names — some with authorships from outside the Americas — persist in some taxonomic databases but fall outside this accepted, revised species list, reflecting the genus's history as a broad, later-narrowed grouping for twining Apocynaceae vines.
One of the better-known species, Echites umbellatus, is commonly called "Devil's Potato" and grows in Florida, the Yucatán Peninsula, and across much of the Caribbean.
Distribution
Echites is native primarily to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and Florida. Individual accepted species are concentrated in Cuba, Costa Rica, Panama, the Yucatán Peninsula, and other Caribbean and Central American localities.
Taxonomy Notes
Over 500 names have been published within Echites, but most have been synonymized or moved to other genera; only 14 species are currently accepted, per a modern Neotropical revision. GBIF's backbone taxonomy still carries synonym genera Allotoonia, Echithes, and Fernaldia under Echites, and retains a handful of older or geographically inconsistent names (e.g., species with Asian-flora authorships) whose placement is ambiguous and which fall outside the 14-species accepted list.
