Abelia

Abelia is a formerly recognized genus that contained about 30 species and hybrids, placed in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that the genus was not monophyletic, and in 2013, Maarten Christenhusz proposed the merger of "Abelia" (excluding section "Zabelia") into "Linnaea", along with some other genera. "Abelia" section "Zabelia" was raised to the genus "Zabelia".
Description.
Species formerly placed in "Abelia" are shrubs from 1–6 m tall, native to eastern Asia (Japan west to the Himalaya) and southern North America (Mexico); the species from warm climates are evergreen, and colder climate species deciduous. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, ovate, glossy, dark green, 1.5–8 cm long, turning purplish-bronze to red in autumn in the deciduous species. The flowers appear in the upper leaf axils and stem ends, 1-8 together in a short cyme; they are pendulous, white to pink, bell-shaped with a five-lobed corolla, 1–5 cm long, and usually scented. Flowering continues over a long and continuous period from late spring to fall.
Some of these species are cultivated as ornamental garden plants, and may still be described as "Abelia" in horticultural listings. A notable example is the hybrid "Abelia" × "grandiflora" (now "Linnaea" × "grandiflora").
Taxonomy.
The generic name commemorates Clarke Abel, a keen naturalist who accompanied Lord Amherst's unsuccessful embassy to China in 1816 as a surgeon, under the sponsorship of Sir Joseph Banks. All of Abel's seeds and plants were lost in a shipwreck on the homeward voyage, however; living plants of "Abelia chinensis" (now "Linnaea chinensis") were first imported to England in 1844 by Robert Fortune.
Some species placed in "Abelia" were transferred to "Linnaea" at various times from 1872 onwards, but these transfers were not accepted by most botanists. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that a number of genera traditionally placed in the tribe Linnaeeae were closely related, but that "Abelia" was not monophyletic, even with "Abelia" section "Zabelia" split off as a separate genus "Zabelia". In 2013, Maarten Christenhusz proposed that "Abelia" and related genera be merged into "Linnaea". This proposal has been adopted by recent sources, including the Plants of the World Online.
Allergenicity.
"Abelia" has an OPALS allergy scale rating of 5, indicating moderate potential to cause allergic reactions, exacerbated by over-use of the same plant throughout a garden. People allergic to honeysuckle may experience cross-reactive allergic reactions with "Abelia".
Symbolism.
The Abelia is symbolic for equality in some parts of Mexico
Former species and synonyms.
Species and synonyms previously placed in "Abelia" but now placed in other genera include: