Christiana DC., Prodr. 1: 516. 1824.

Christannia Walp., Repert. Bot. Syst. 1 (2): 360. 1842, sphalm. pro Christiana DC.

Speirostyla Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 25 (171): 298. 1889. Type. Christiana africana DC. (as Speirostyla tiliifolia Baker)

Asterophorum Sprague, Bull. Misc. Inform. 1908 (6): 249. 1908. Type. Christiana eburnea (Sprague) Kubitzki (as Asterophorum eburneum Sprague)

Tahitia Burret, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9 (88): 609. 1926. Type. Christiana vescoana (Baill.) Kubitzki (as Tahitia vescoana Baill.)

Type.

Christiana africana DC.

Distribution.

A genus of six species found in Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar, and French Polynesia, with Brazil where there are four species, two of which are endemic as its main center of diversity. The genus is primarily found in rainforest ecosystems.

Eponymy.

Candolle named this genus in honor of Christen (Christian) Smith (1785–1816), who collected in the Canary and Cape Verde islands and in the Congo.