Cecropia

This article is about the tropical plant. It is also an old name for the Acropolis, Athens. In North America, the moth species Hyalophora cecropia is known as a "Cecropia Moth".

Cecropia is a genus of about 25 species of trees in the nettle family Urticaceae. They are native to tropical South and Central America, where they form one of the most recognisable components of the rainforest, easily identified by their large, circular palmately lobed leaves about 30-40 cm diameter, deeply divided into 7-11 lobes.

Etymology and uses

In the past they were commonly classified in their own family (Cecropiaceae) or in the mulberry family Moraceae, but recent genetic evidence carried out by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group has shown they are within the Urticaceae.

Cecropia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Hypercompe icasia.

The genus is named after King Cecrops I, first King of Athens.

Cecropia glazioui shows antidepressant-like activity in rats.

Species include:

• Cecropia adenopodus
  
• Cecropia glaziovii
  
• Cecropia hololeucan
  
• Cecropia insignis
  
• Cecropia longipes
• Cecropia maxima
• Cecropia maxonii
• Cecropia multiflora
• Cecropia myrtluca
  
• Cecropia obtusifolia
  
• Cecropia pachystachia
  
• Cecropia palmata
  
• Cecropia pastasana
• Cecropia peltata
  
• Cecropia polyphlebia
• Cecropia tubulosa
• Cecropia utcubambana
• Cecropia velutinella

References

External links

• Cecropia spp. (Raintree Nutrition - Tropical Plant Database)