Pattalias

Pattalias is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to Mexico, Belize, the West Indies, and the southeastern United States.

Taxonomy
The two species placed in the genus were for many years sunk into a broadly defined genus Cynanchum. In 2005, on the basis of both molecular phylogenetic and morphological evidence, it was proposed that they should be placed in a separate genus. Determining the correct name to be used for this genus involves a complex taxonomic history. The genus was first described in 1817 by Elliott using the name Lyonia. However, this name had already been published in 1808 by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque for a genus in the family Polygonaceae, so Elliott's name is an illegitimate later homonym. In 1818, Rafinesque published a replacement name, Macbridea. This too has been treated as an illegitimate later homonym, as Thomas Nuttall had published Macbridea in the same year for a genus in the family Lamiaceae, ascribing the name to Elliott. In 1828, Ludwig Reichenbach published Seutera as a replacement name for Elliott's Lyonia, unaware of Rafinesque's Macbridea. In 1889, Sereno Watson published the name Pattalias. It is now considered that Rafinesque may have published Macbridea a few weeks before Nuttall, so Seutera is superfluous. (It could also be confused with Sutera.) A proposal to conserve Seutera was rejected. As Macbridea Elliott has been conserved against Macbridea Raf., the remaining legitimate name is Watson's Pattalias.

Species
Two species are accepted:
 * Pattalias palmeri S. Watson - Baja California Sur
 * Pattalias palustris (Pursh) Fishbein - Cuba, southeastern United States, Veracruz, Yucatán Peninsula