Wigandia is a genus of flowering plants within the waterleaf subfamily, Hydrophylloideae. They are found mainly in Central America

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

 and South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

, though one or two species are found as far north as the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Some are grown as ornamental plants and will flourish in most Mediterranean or temperate regions.

Within the Hydrophylloideae, Wigandia species are unusual in having minute seeds and a high base chromosome

Chromosome

A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...

 number (19); it is also the only neotropical genus in the subfamily.

Some species originally classified in Wigandia are now treated in other genera, e.g. Eriodictyon

Eriodictyon

Eriodictyon is a genus of plants within the Hydrophylloideae subfamily of the Boraginaceae family.It includes Yerba Santa , along with other similarly named plants...

. There is a group of closely related genera within the Hydrophylloideae subfamily, and it is likely that further taxonomic work will result in additional reclassifications. A recent molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Hydrophylloideae included two Wigandia species (W. caracasana and W. urens), and confirmed that they lay within a clade

Clade

A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...

 that includes Eriodictyon, and also the genera Nama

Nama

Nama may mean:* Nama band, a Greek music group* Nama , a genus of plants in the family Hydrophyllaceae* Holy Name in Indian religions* Nama , a hero in ? folklore who built an ark to save his family from a flood...

and Turricula

Turricula (plant genus)

The Poodle-dog bush or Common turricula, Turricula parryi, is the only species currently classified in the genus Turricula, within the waterleaf subfamily, Hydrophylloideae...

.

The genus as currently recognized comprises over 20 species, including the following:

• Wigandia brevistyla Cornejo
• Wigandia caracasana
  Wigandia caracasana
  The Caracus wigandia, Wigandia caracasana is a species of ornamental plant. It is an evergreen that grows to a height of up to 3 metres . It has purple flowers in large clusters from spring to autumn. Some sources treat it as a variety of the species Wigandia urens...
  
  
• Wigandia crispa
• Wigandia darii
• Wigandia disparaginoides
• Wigandia ecuadorensis Cornejo
• Wigandia ericodes
• Wigandia herbacea
• Wigandia imperialis
• Wigandia kraussii
• Wigandia kunthii
• Wigandia lasiocarpa
• Wigandia laxifolia
• Wigandia leucocephala
• Wigandia macrophylla
• Wigandia peruviana
• Wigandia pruritiva
• Wigandia reflexa
• Wigandia scorpioides
• Wigandia seriphiodes
• Wigandia urens
• Wigandia vigieri
• Wigandia wurdackiana

Species formerly classified within Wigandia include:

• Eriodictyon californicum
  Eriodictyon californicum
  Eriodictyon californicum is a species of plant within the Hydrophyllaceae family. It is also known as Yerba Santa, Mountain Balm, Consumptive's Weed and Bear Weed.-Distribution:...
  
  (formerly W. californica)