My Fascination with the Pavonia Genus
I’ve always been drawn to the vibrant colors and intricate forms of the natural world, but it was the discovery of the Pavonia genus that truly ignited my passion for botany. These flowering plants, belonging to the mallow family (Malvaceae), are a testament to the beauty and diversity of the plant kingdom. With their delicate petals, striking colors, and unique characteristics, they have captivated me completely.
Unveiling the Beauty of Pavonia
The Pavonia genus, named after the Spanish botanist José Antonio Pavón Jiménez, encompasses a vast array of species, each with its own distinct charm. From the fiery reds of Pavonia multiflora to the soft pinks of Pavonia hastata, the genus boasts a spectrum of colors that rival any artist’s palette.
What truly sets Pavonia apart, however, are the intricate details of its flowers. The delicate petals, often adorned with contrasting veins or patterns, create a mesmerizing display. The way the flowers unfurl, revealing their hidden depths, is a spectacle that never fails to amaze me.
A Diverse and Widespread Genus
The Pavonia genus is a cosmopolitan group, with species found in tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. This wide distribution has led to a remarkable diversity within the genus, with species adapted to a variety of habitats, from arid deserts to lush rainforests.
- Pavonia achanioides Griseb.
- Pavonia alba Seem.
- Pavonia alia Fryxell
- Pavonia almasana Ulbr.
- Pavonia alnifolia A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia angustifolia Benth.
- Pavonia angustipetala Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia anisaster (Standl.) Fryxell
- Pavonia apiculata R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia arabica Hochst. & Steud. ex Boiss.
- Pavonia arachnoidea C.Presl
- Pavonia arenaria (Murray) Roth
- Pavonia argentina Gürke
- Pavonia aschersoniana Gürke
- Pavonia aschersonioides Fryxell
- Pavonia aspera Hassl.
- Pavonia atlantica Fryxell
- Pavonia aurantia Alain
- Pavonia aurelii Fryxell
- Pavonia aurigloba Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia bahamensis Hitchc.
- Pavonia baillonii Hochr.
- Pavonia balansae Gürke
- Pavonia baumliana Fryxell
- Pavonia belophylla Hochr.
- Pavonia betonicifolia C.Presl
- Pavonia biflora Fryxell
- Pavonia blanchetiana Miq.
- Pavonia blepharicarpa N.A.Brummitt & Vollesen
- Pavonia boisiana Krapov.
- Pavonia botumirima Krapov.
- Pavonia brevibracteolata Hauman
- Pavonia bullulata Hochr.
- Pavonia burchellii (DC.) R.A.Dyer
- Pavonia cabraliana Krapov.
- Pavonia calcicola (Britton) Ekman
- Pavonia calycina (Cav.) Ulbr.
- Pavonia calyculosa A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
- Pavonia cancellata (L.) Cav.
- Pavonia candida (DC.) Fryxell
- Pavonia capivarensis Krapov.
- Pavonia castaneifolia A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
- Pavonia cauliflora (Nees) Fryxell ex G.L.Esteves
- Pavonia chiquitensis J.R.I.Wood
- Pavonia chlorantha (Kunth) Fryxell
- Pavonia ciliata G.L.Esteves & Krapov.
- Pavonia clarkii Fryxell
- Pavonia clathrata Mast.
- Pavonia coccinea Cav.
- Pavonia cochensis J.R.Johnst.
- Pavonia columella Cav.
- Pavonia communis A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia commutata Garcke
- Pavonia conferta A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia corymbosa (Sw.) Willd.
- Pavonia cracens Fryxell & G.L.Esteves
- Pavonia crassipedicellata Krapov.
- Pavonia crispa Krapov.
- Pavonia cristaliana Krapov.
- Pavonia cristata Schinz ex Gürke
- Pavonia cristobaliae Fryxell
- Pavonia cryptica Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia cryptocalyx Urb.
- Pavonia cymbalaria A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
- Pavonia dasypetala Turcz.
- Pavonia decora Fryxell
- Pavonia dentata Burtt Davy
- Pavonia dimorphostemon Verdc.
- Pavonia distinguenda A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
- Pavonia domatiifera J.Florence
- Pavonia dregei Garcke
- Pavonia ducke-limae Monteiro
- Pavonia durangensis Fryxell
- Pavonia dusenii Krapov.
- Pavonia ecostata Fryxell & S.D.Koch
- Pavonia ekmanii Helwig
- Pavonia elegans Garcke
- Pavonia ellenbeckii Gürke
- Pavonia eremogeiton Ulbr.
- Pavonia erythrolema Gürke
- Pavonia eurychlamys Ulbr.
- Pavonia exasperata Grings & Boldrini
- Pavonia falconensis Fryxell
- Pavonia filiformis J.R.I.Wood
- Pavonia firmiflora Schery
- Pavonia flavispina Miq.
- Pavonia flavoferruginea (Forssk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood
- Pavonia fonsecana (Standl.) Fryxell
- Pavonia formosa Fryxell
- Pavonia friesii Krapov.
- Pavonia friisii Thulin & Vollesen
- Pavonia froesii Fryxell
- Pavonia fruticosa (Mill.) Fawc. & Rendle
- Pavonia fryxelliana Fosberg & Sachet
- Pavonia fryxellii Krapov.
- Pavonia gallaensis Ulbr.
- Pavonia garckeana Gürke
- Pavonia geminiflora Moric.
- Pavonia gentryi Fryxell
- Pavonia gerleniae Gonçalez & M.C.Duarte
- Pavonia glazioviana Gürke
- Pavonia glaziovii (Ulbr.) Fryxell
- Pavonia glechomoides A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia glutinosa Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia goetheoides (Hassl.) Fryxell ex G.L.Esteves
- Pavonia gossweileri Exell
- Pavonia gracilis R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia grandiflora A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia graomogoliana Krapov.
- Pavonia grazielae Krapov.
- Pavonia guerkeana R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia harleyi Krapov.
- Pavonia hassleriana Chodat
- Pavonia hastata Cav.
- Pavonia hatschbachii Krapov.
- Pavonia heterostemon Urb.
- Pavonia heterotricha Fryxell
- Pavonia hexaphylla (S.Moore) Krapov.
- Pavonia hieronymi Gürke
- Pavonia hirticalyx Fryxell
- Pavonia hirtiflora Benth.
- Pavonia horrida Krapov.
- Pavonia hotteana Helwig
- Pavonia humifusa A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia imatacensis Steyerm.
- Pavonia immaculata R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia immitis Fryxell
- Pavonia insperabilis Fryxell
- Pavonia integrifolia Standl.
- Pavonia intermedia A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia intermixta A.Rich.
- Pavonia ionthacarpa Krapov.
- Pavonia kearneyi D.M.Bates
- Pavonia kilimandscharica Gürke
- Pavonia kleinii Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia kotschyi Hochst. ex Webb
- Pavonia krapovickasii Fryxell
- Pavonia laetevirens R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia lanata R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia lasiopetala Scheele
- Pavonia latibracteolata Krapov.
- Pavonia latifolia (Nees & Mart.) Spreng.
- Pavonia laxifolia A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia leiocarpa Urb.
- Pavonia leptocalyx (Sond.) Ulbr.
- Pavonia leucantha Garcke
- Pavonia longifolia A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia longipedunculata Gürke
- Pavonia longipilosa Thulin
- Pavonia longitricha Fryxell
- Pavonia longitudinalis Fryxell
- Pavonia luetzelburgii Ulbr.
- Pavonia macdougallii Fryxell
- Pavonia macrobracteolata Gonçalez & M.C.Duarte
- Pavonia macrostyla Gürke
- Pavonia makoyana É.Morren
- Pavonia malacophylla (Link & Otto) Garcke
- Pavonia malvaviscoides A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia marginata Thulin
- Pavonia martii Colla
- Pavonia matteiana Thulin
- Pavonia mattogrossensis R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia meeboldii Ulbr.
- Pavonia melhanioides Thulin
- Pavonia missionum Ekman
- Pavonia mollis Kunth
- Pavonia montana Garcke ex Gürke
- Pavonia monticola Fryxell
- Pavonia morii Krapov.
- Pavonia multiflora A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia mutisii Kunth
- Pavonia nana R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia narcissi Krapov.
- Pavonia nayarensis Fryxell
- Pavonia neei Fryxell
- Pavonia nemoralis A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
- Pavonia nepetifolia (Standl.) Standl.
- Pavonia nigrescens Thulin
- Pavonia occhionii Krapov.
- Pavonia opulifolia S.Moore
- Pavonia orientalis Krapov.
- Pavonia ovaliphylla G.L.Esteves & Krapov.
- Pavonia oxyphylla (Moc. & Sessé ex DC.) Fryxell
- Pavonia oxyphyllaria Donn.Sm.
- Pavonia pabstii Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia palmeirensis Krapov.
- Pavonia paludicola Nicolson ex Fryxell
- Pavonia paneroi Fryxell
- Pavonia paniculata Cav.
- Pavonia papilionacea Cav.
- Pavonia paraensis Fryxell
- Pavonia patuliloba Hochr.
- Pavonia paucibracteata Thulin
- Pavonia paucidentata Fryxell
- Pavonia penduliflora (Standl.) Standl.
- Pavonia peruviana Gürke
- Pavonia piauhyensis Ulbr.
- Pavonia pilifera Krapov.
- Pavonia piptocalyx Krapov.
- Pavonia pirottae (A.Terracc.) Chiov.
- Pavonia platyloba R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia pleuranthera (DC.) Fryxell
- Pavonia pohlii Gürke
- Pavonia praemorsa (L.f.) Cav.
- Pavonia prionophylla R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia procumbens (Wight & Arn.) Walp.
- Pavonia propinqua Garcke
- Pavonia pseudolaxifolia Fryxell
- Pavonia pseudotyphalaea Planch. & Linden
- Pavonia psilophylla Ekman
- Pavonia pterocarpa R.E.Fr.
- Pavonia pulchra Hochr.
- Pavonia pulidoae Fryxell
- Pavonia punctata Urb.
- Pavonia purpusii Brandegee
- Pavonia quadrifida Fryxell
- Pavonia queirozii Krapov.
- Pavonia ramboi Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia rehmannii Szyszył.
- Pavonia reitzii Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia renifolia Krapov.
- Pavonia repens Fryxell
- Pavonia restiaria Bertoni
- Pavonia reticulata Garcke
- Pavonia revoluta Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia rhizophorae Killip
- Pavonia rhodantha Hochr.
- Pavonia rogersii N.E.Br.
- Pavonia rojasii Hassl.
- Pavonia rosa-campestris A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia rosengurttii Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia rotundifolia Thulin & Vollesen
- Pavonia rubra Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia rudis Fryxell
- Pavonia rupestris (Hassl.) Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia sagittata A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia salmonea Grings & Boldrini
- Pavonia sancti Krapov.
- Pavonia sapucayensis Hassl.
- Pavonia schiedeana Steud.
- Pavonia schimperiana Hochst. ex A.Rich.
- Pavonia schininii Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia schrankii Spreng.
- Pavonia schwackei Gürke
- Pavonia schweinfurthii Ulbr.
- Pavonia secreta Grings & Krapov.
- Pavonia semiserrata (Schrad.) Steud.
- Pavonia senegalensis (Cav.) Leistner
- Pavonia sepioides Fryxell & Krapov.
- Pavonia sepium A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia serrana G.L.Esteves
- Pavonia serrata Franch.
- Pavonia setifer (C.Presl) Fryxell
- Pavonia sidifolia Kunth
- Pavonia somalensis Franch.
- Pavonia spectabilis Krapov.
- Pavonia spiciformis Krapov.
- Pavonia spinifex (L.) Cav.
- Pavonia spinistipula Gürke
- Pavonia spuria Fryxell
- Pavonia stenopetala Krapov.
- Pavonia steudneri Ulbr.
- Pavonia stipularis Krapov.
- Pavonia stolzii Ulbr.
- Pavonia striata Krapov.
- Pavonia strictiflora (Hook.) G.L.Esteves
- Pavonia subhastata Triana & Planch.
- Pavonia submutica Fryxell
- Pavonia subrotunda A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
- Pavonia teresina Krapov.
- Pavonia tiliifolia (Ulbr.) Fryxell
- Pavonia transvaalensis (Ulbr.) A.Meeuse
- Pavonia tricalycaris A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia triloba Guill. & Perr.
- Pavonia troyana (Urb.) Urb.
- Pavonia undulata Krapov.
- Pavonia uniflora (Sessé & Moc.) Fryxell
- Pavonia urens Cav.
- Pavonia vannii Fryxell
- Pavonia varians Moric.
- Pavonia velvetiana Krapov.
- Pavonia venusta Fryxell
- Pavonia vinosa G.L.Esteves
- Pavonia viscidula A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
- Pavonia viscosa A.St.-Hil.
- Pavonia vitifolia Hochr.
- Pavonia windischii Krapov.
- Pavonia xanthogloea Ekman
- Pavonia yatarendana Krapov. & Cristóbal
- Pavonia zehntneri Ulbr.
- Pavonia zeylonica (L.) Cav.
My Personal Connection to Pavonia
My interest in Pavonia began with a chance encounter during a botanical expedition. I was immediately struck by the vibrant colors and intricate forms of the flowers. As I delved deeper into the genus, I became fascinated by its diversity and adaptability.
I have since cultivated several Pavonia species in my own garden, and I am constantly amazed by their resilience and beauty. They have brought a touch of the exotic to my backyard, and they serve as a constant reminder of the wonders of the natural world.
The Importance of Conservation
As with many plant species, some members of the Pavonia genus are facing threats due to habitat loss and climate change. It is crucial that we take steps to conserve these beautiful plants for future generations.
By raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity and supporting conservation efforts, we can help ensure that the Pavonia genus continues to thrive.
A Lifelong Passion
My journey with Pavonia has been a rewarding one, filled with discovery and wonder. I am committed to continuing my exploration of this fascinating genus, and I hope to share my passion with others.
The Pavonia genus is a testament to the beauty and resilience of the natural world. It is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, life finds a way to flourish.