Clausena

Clausena is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family Rutaceae. It includes evergreen shrubs and small trees native to tropical and subtropical Asia and parts of Australasia. Species are typically aromatic, with leaves often pinnately compound and bearing glandular oils that release citrus-like scents when crushed. The flowers are small, usually white or pale yellow, and arranged in terminal or axillary panicles. Fruits are generally small and fleshy drupes or berries, often with a segmented or smooth rind.

The genus has a broad distribution, from southern China and the Indian subcontinent through Southeast Asia to New Guinea and northern Australia. Habitats range from lowland forests and forest margins to hillsides and secondary growth, frequently in warm, humid climates.

The best-known species is Clausena lansium, commonly called wampee or Chinese wampee, valued for its edible fruit, which is usually eaten fresh or used in preserves. Other Clausena species are used in traditional medicines in parts of Asia, and some are grown ornamentally for their fragrant flowers and foliage. Taxonomy within Clausena has varied, with species limits and the number of species differing by authority; molecular studies have helped clarify relationships within the Rutaceae.