[6] 14 or 15 species are native to the Western Ghats of southwestern India, including the endemic Lasianthus agasthyamalayanus.

The name Lasianthus has been misapplied to Lisianthius (also spelled as "Lisianthus" or "Lisyanthus"[12]), a genus in Gentianaceae.

As of March 2023[update], Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[1] Subshrubs, shrubs, or rarely, small trees.

The generic name Lasianthus is derived from the Greek lasios, "shaggy, velvety, hairy", and anthos, "flower".

[16] DNA sequence analysis has not resolved the question of whether Litosanthes is nested within Lasianthus or separate from it.

[citation needed] Lasianthus, Saldinia, and Trichostachys form the tribe Lasiantheae in the subfamily Rubioideae.

[17] Lasiantheae was formerly thought to be close to Psychotria, but is now known to be a basal clade in Rubioideae.

It is sister to the large clade containing Coussarea, Psychotria, Spermacoce, and many other genera.

The African genera Batopedina and Dirichletia have also been suggested as relatives of Lasianthus.

Only one molecular phylogenetic study has sampled more than a few species from the tribe Lasiantheae.