Persea

Persea
Temporal range:
Persea indica foliage and fruit
Avocado (Persea americana) foliage
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Lauraceae
Genus: Persea
Mill.
Type species
Persea americana
Species

See text. Complete list

Synonyms
  • Apollonias Nees
  • Farnesia Heist. ex Fabr.
  • Mutisiopersea Kosterm.
  • Nyrophylla Neck.

Persea is a genus of about 111 species of evergreen trees belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae. The best-known member of the genus is the avocado, P. americana, widely cultivated in subtropical regions for its large, edible fruit.