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amyris

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}

{{other uses|Amyris (company)|Amyris of Sybaris|Amyris (flatworm)}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Amyris elemifera1.jpg

| image_caption = Sea torchwood (A. elemifera)

| taxon = Amyris

| authority = P.Browne

| type_species =Amyris balsamifera

| type_species_authority=L.{{cite web |url=http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40012948 |title=Amyris P. Browne |work=TROPICOS |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden |accessdate=2009-12-28}}

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision = See text.

}}

Amyris is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae.{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?582 |title=Genus: Amyris P. Browne |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=2008-03-21 |accessdate=2009-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528171346/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?582 |archive-date=2010-05-28 |url-status=dead }} The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ{{lang|grc|υρων}} ({{lang|grc-Latn|amyron}}), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=esMPU5DHEGgC |title=CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names |volume=I: A-C |first=Umberto |last=Quattrocchi |publisher=CRC Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8493-2675-2 |page=126}} Members of the genus are commonly known as torchwoods{{ITIS |id=28873 |taxon=Amyris |accessdate=2010-02-22}} because of their highly flammable wood.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eS7lX_rC3GEC |first=Daniel F. |last=Austin |title=Florida Ethnobotany |publisher=CRC Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-8493-2332-4 |pages=88–91}}

Species

{{As of|2021|September}}, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:{{cite web |title=Amyris P.Browne |work=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326633-2 |access-date=2021-09-15 }}

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=Formerly placed here=

  • Atalantia simplicifolia (Roxb.) Engl. (as A. simplicifolia Roxb.)
  • Boswellia papyrifera (Delile ex Caill.) Hochst. (as A. papyrifera Delile ex Caill.)
  • Bursera excelsa (as A. elegans)
  • Canarium zeylanicum (Retz.) Blume (as A. zeylanica Retz.)
  • Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. (as A. anisata Willd. or A. dentata Willd.)
  • Clausena heptaphylla (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn. ex Steud. (as A. heptaphylla Roxb. ex DC.)
  • Commiphora gileadensis (L.) C.Chr. (as A. gileadensis L. or A. opobalsamum L.)
  • Commiphora kataf (Forssk.) Engl. (as A. kataf Forssk.)
  • Metopium toxiferum (L.) Krug & Urb. (as A. toxifera L.)
  • Schinus polygama (Cav.) Cabrera (as A. polygama Cav.){{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?582 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001102112231/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?582 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2000-11-02 |title=GRIN Species Records of Amyris |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |accessdate=2010-09-16 }}

Uses

The trunks of Amyris species exude elemi, a type of balsam (oleoresin) that contains elemic acids, liquid sesquiterpenes, and triterpenes such as α- and β-amyrin among other components.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zY6tOeej-LAC |title=Plant Resins: Chemistry, Evolution, Ecology, and Ethnobotany |first=Jean H. |last=Langenheim |year=2003 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-0-88192-574-6 |pages=356–358}} It is used medicinally{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} and in lacquers. The wood is often used for torches and firewood. Its high resin content causes it to burn brightly, and it will burn well even when green. In addition, the wood is hard, heavy, close-grained, can take a high polish, and repels dry wood termites. Essential oils containing caryophyllene, cadinene, and cadinol are extracted from A. balsamifera and A. elemifera. These are used in varnishes, perfumes, medicines, cosmetics, soaps, and incense.

Chemical compounds known as chromenylated amides isolated from Amyris plumieri have shown some inhibition of the cytochrome P450 enzymes.{{cite journal | pmid = 20951188 | year = 2011 | last1 = Badal | first1 = S | last2 = Williams | first2 = SA | last3 = Huang | first3 = G | last4 = Francis | first4 = S | last5 = Vendantam | first5 = P | last6 = Dunbar | first6 = O | last7 = Jacobs | first7 = H | last8 = Tzeng | first8 = TJ | last9 = Gangemi | first9 = J | display-authors=8| title = Cytochrome P450 1 enzyme inhibition and anticancer potential of chromene amides from Amyris plumieri | volume = 82 | issue = 2 | pages = 230–6 | doi = 10.1016/j.fitote.2010.10.003 | journal = Fitoterapia}}

References

{{Wikispecies}}

{{Commons category|Amyris}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1338573}}

Category:Rutaceae genera

Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

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