PlantaeDB Logo
Login Sign-up

Genus Dodonaea in Subfamily Dodonaeoideae

In botanical taxonomy, a genus (plural genera) is a rank used to group closely related species within a family. In the hierarchy, genus sits below family and above species.

Genera are defined by shared morphological, anatomical, and genetic characteristics (for example, features of flowers, fruits, seeds, or leaves) that indicate a close evolutionary relationship among the species they contain.

Each genus can include one or more species. Examples include Rosa (roses) and Solanum (nightshades, including tomato and eggplant).

Do you wish to read more about plant taxonomy? Click here!

Genus Description

Suggest a correction!

Dodonaea (family Sapindaceae) comprises approximately 70 species, with the majority in Australia and Madagascar, and additional species across tropical to warm-temperate regions worldwide (POWO, 2024; WFO, 2024). Dodonaea viscosa is commonly treated as the type species. Plants are xeromorphic shrubs to small trees with viscous, glossy leaves that lack stipules. Flowers are small, unisexual, and borne in axillary or terminal cymes; calyx and corolla are typically reduced or absent, with eight or fewer stamens, and the ovary is usually three-locular with axile placentation (Miller et al., 2019). The distinctive fruits are inflated, papery-winged samara-like capsules that facilitate wind dispersal.

Centers of diversity lie in Australia and Madagascar, with many regional endemics; a smaller assemblage occurs in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Species occupy arid to subhumid habitats, from coastal dunes and sandy plains to open woodlands and mountain slopes, with a frequency in fire-prone systems (Miller et al., 2019). Pollination is predominantly wind, with minor insect visitation recorded in some species, and the many-seeded samaras aid long-distance dispersal.

The genus is placed within the Sapindoideae/Dodonaeoideae clade of Sapindaceae, closely allied to Diplopeltis and related Australian lineages (Miller et al., 2019; Buerki et al., 2009). No formal sectional subdivision is widely applied, although the Australian radiation comprises several informally recognized species groups. Taxonomic treatments remain dynamic; recent work has clarified species limits in Australia (Cunningham & Binks, 2019), but several narrow endemics persist with unresolved status and synonymy varies among regional treatments (POWO, 2024).

The hopbushes are drought-tolerant ornamentals, particularly D. viscosa and Australian taxa valued in xeriscapes and restoration plantings (Miller et al., 2019). Some species, especially D. viscosa, are considered invasive outside their native ranges (GBIF, 2024). Conservation concerns center on habitat loss and fragmentation of narrow endemics; while many taxa resprout after fire, intensified disturbance and climate extremes elevate risks for localized species. Continued systematic research and standardized red-list assessments across regions remain priorities (Miller et al., 2019).

Pick a Species to see its components: