Clethroides

Clethroides is a botanical name that has appeared in various classifications for a group of flowering plants. In contemporary usage, the rank and circumscription of Clethroides are variable: some taxonomic authorities recognize Clethroides as a valid genus within the family Clethraceae, while many others treat Clethroides as a synonym of the closely related genus Clethra. The differing treatments reflect ongoing revision of Clethra-related groups and reliance on different botanical data sources.

Because the concept of Clethroides changes with classification, morphological descriptions and geographic distribution are correspondingly variable. In general, taxa treated as Clethroides are described as shrubs or herbaceous perennials with simple leaves and panicles or racemes of small flowers, often white or pale; bloom times and habitat preferences align with many Clethra-like plants, including woodland and garden settings in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

In cultivation, plants formerly listed as Clethroides are valued for ornamental flowers and are sometimes grown under Clethra nomenclature depending on the accepted taxonomy. For authoritative and up-to-date information, consult major plant databases such as The Plant List, Plants of the World Online, and IPNI, noting the potential for synonymy and reclassification.