Grias is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lecythidaceae, described by Linnaeus in 1759.Linnaeus, Carl von. 1759. Systema Naturae, Editio Decima 2: 1075 in LatinTropicos, Grias L. It is native to northwestern South America, Central America, and Jamaica.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
They are small to medium-sized trees, growing to tall. The leaves are evergreen, alternate, simple, broad lanceolate, very large, up to long, with an entire or waved margin. The flowers are creamy white to yellow, with four petals; they are cauliflorous, produced in clusters on the trunk and stouter branches. The fruit is long, with a fleshy coat; it is edible in several species.Davidse, G., M. Sousa Sánchez, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera. 2009. Cucurbitaceae a Polemoniaceae. 4(1): i–xvi, 1–855. In G. Davidse, M. Sousa Sánchez, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera (eds.) Flora Mesoamericana. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, MéxicoMolina Rosito, A. 1975. Enumeración de las plantas de Honduras. Ceiba 19(1): 1–118.Stevens, W. D., C. Ulloa Ulloa, A. Pool & O. M. Montiel. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monographs in systematic botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 85: i–xlii,.
Grias neuberthii extracts show in vitro activity against human cancer cells.
Accepted species
References
External links Field Museum: Grias photos Field Museum Herbarium: Grias photos