Ixora is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of flowering plant

Flowering plant

The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...

s in the Rubiaceae

Rubiaceae

The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...

 family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

. It consists of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs and holds around 500 species. Though native to the tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world, its centre of diversity is in Tropical Asia

Tropical Asia

Through a crop-based biodiversity, natural resources and animals , Tropical Asia is economically and physiogeographically rich. There are 16 countries of Tropical Asia ranging in size from around 610 km² to 3,000,000 km²...

. Ixora also grows commonly in subtropical climates in the United States, such as Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

. It is commonly known as West Indian Jasmine. Other common names include: rangan, kheme, ponna, chann tanea, techi, pan, santan, jarum-jarum, Jungle flame, Jungle geranium, and many more. The plants possess leathery leaves, ranging from 3 to 6 inches in length, and produce large clusters of tiny flowers in the summer. Members of Ixora prefer acidic soil, and are suitable choices for bonsai

Bonsai

is a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers. Similar practices exist in other cultures, including the Chinese tradition of penjing from which the art originated, and the miniature living landscapes of Vietnamese hòn non bộ...

. It is also a popular choice for hedges in parts of South East Asia, like in Thailand. In tropical climates they flower year round.

Red ixora flowers are commonly used in Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 worship, as well as in Indian folk medicine

Folk medicine

-Description:Refers to healing practices and ideas of body physiology and health preservation known to a limited segment of the population in a culture, transmitted informally as general knowledge, and practiced or applied by anyone in the culture having prior experience.All cultures and societies...

.

Selected species

Ixora albersii Ixora albersii Ixora albersii is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to the West Usambara Mountains in Tanzania.-Source:* Lovett, J. & Clarke, G.P. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... K.Schum. Ixora brevipedunculata Ixora brevipedunculata Ixora brevipedunculata is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to the island Tubuai in French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Fosberg Ixora calycina Ixora calycina Ixora calycina is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Thwaites Ixora coccinea Ixora coccinea Ixora coccinea is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is a common flowering shrub native to Southern India and Sri Lanka. It has become one of the most popular flowering shrubs in South Florida gardens and landscapes. Its name derives from an Indian deity.-Description:I... L. Ixora foliosa Ixora foliosa Ixora foliosa is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is found in western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Cheek. M. 2004. ... Hiern Ixora johnsonii Ixora johnsonii Ixora johnsonii is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Kerala, India.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Hook.f. Ixora jucunda Ixora jucunda Ixora jucunda is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Thwaites Ixora lawsonii Gamble Ixora malabarica Ixora malabarica Ixora malabarica is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to southern India.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... (Dennst.) Mabb. Ixora marquesensis Ixora marquesensis Ixora marquesensis is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Marquesas in French Polynesia, hence its name.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... F.Br. Ixora moorensis Ixora moorensis Ixora moorensis is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Moorea in French Polynesia, hence its name.-Sources:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... (Nadeaud) Fosberg Ixora nigerica Ixora nigerica Ixora nigerica is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is found in west tropical Africa.-Sources:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Keay Ixora ooumuensis Ixora ooumuensis Ixora ooumuensis is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to the island of Nuku Hiva in French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... J.Florence Ixora pudica Ixora pudica Ixora pudica is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Seychelles.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Baker Ixora raiateensis Ixora raiateensis Ixora raiateensis is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Raiatea in French Polynesia, hence its name.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... J.W.Moore Ixora raivavaensis Ixora raivavaensis Ixora raivavaensis is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Raivavae in French Polynesia, hence its name.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Fosberg Ixora saulierei Ixora saulierei Ixora saulierei is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to southern India.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Gamble Ixora setchellii Ixora setchellii Ixora setchellii is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to the Society Islands of French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Fosberg Ixora st.-johnii Ixora st.-johnii Ixora st.-johnii is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to the island Huahine in French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Fosberg Ixora stokesii Ixora stokesii Ixora stokesii is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to the island Rapa-Iti in French Polynesia.-References:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... F.Br. Ixora temehaniensis Ixora temehaniensis Ixora temehaniensis is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to the island Raiatea in French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... J.W.Moore Ixora umbellata Ixora umbellata Ixora umbellata is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is found from southern Indo-China to western Malasia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007.... Valeton ex Koord. & Valeton