Current perspectives on Pyrenaria: An updated review of a lesser-known genus in Theaceae
Abstract
The family Theaceae, commonly known as tea family, comprises approximately 600-760 accepted species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and America. The genus Pyrenaria Blume, belongs to the family Theaceae, distributed throughout tropical Southeast Asia including North East India, Northern Myanmar, Indochina peninsula, and Southwestern China. The present review reveals Pyrenaria as a taxonomically complex, conservation-critical genus with untapped biochemical potential, where molecular systematics (Li et al., 2011), Indian endemism, and pharmacological significance converge. This review highlights the importance of Pyrenaria within the biodiversity hotspot of Northeast India and emphasizes its taxonomic, conservation and pharmacological relevance.
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