Cistus

Cistus
Cistus monspeliensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Cistaceae
Genus: Cistus
L. (1753)
Species[1]

34; see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Halimiocistus Janch. (1925)
  • Halimium (Dunal) Spach (1836)
  • Ladanium Spach (1836)
  • Ladanum Raf. (1838), nom. illeg.
  • Ledonia Spach (1836)
  • Libanotis Raf. (1838), nom. illeg.
  • Rhodocistus Spach (1836)
  • Stegitris Raf. (1838)
  • Stephanocarpus Spach (1836)
  • Strobon Raf. (1838)

Cistus (from the Greek kistos) is a genus of flowering plants in the rockrose family Cistaceae, containing about 20 species (Ellul et al. 2002). They are perennial shrubs found on dry or rocky soils throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal through to the Middle East, and also on the Canary Islands.

Cistus, with its many hybrids and cultivars, is commonly encountered as a garden flower.

The common name rockrose (rock rose in the UK) is applied to the species, a name also shared by the related genera Helianthemum and Tuberaria, all in the family Cistaceae. The common name gum cistus is applied to resin-bearing species, especially C. ladanifer.

  1. ^ a b "Cistus L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2022-07-10.