Nettle faimily
Urtica dioica (Stingin nettle)
Scientific classification
Kinrick: Plantae
Diveesion: Magnoliophyta
Cless: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Faimily: Urticaceae
Juss., 1789
Synonyms

Cecropiaceae C. C. Berg[1]

Urticaceae, or the nettle faimily, is a faimily o flouerin plants. The faimily name comes frae the genus Urtica (nettles). Urticaceae include a nummer o well-kent an uiseful plants, includin the aforementioned nettles, ramie (Boehmeria nivea), māmaki (Pipturus albidus), an ajlai (Debregeasia saeneb).

The faimily includes approximately 2600 species, grouped intae 54 tae 79 genera accordin tae the database o the Ryal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The lairgest genera are Pilea (500 tae 715 species), Elatostema (300 species), Urtica (80 species), an Cecropia (75 species).

Urticaceae can be foond warldwide, apart frae the polar regions.

Taxonomy eedit

 
Male an female flouer o Urtica

APG II system puts Urticaceae in order Rosales, while aulder seestems consider it pairt of Urticales, along wi Ulmaceae, Moraceae an Cannabaceae. APG still considers "auld" Urticales a monophyletic group, but daes nae recognise it as an order on its awn.

Description eedit

Urticaceae can be shrubs (e.g. Pilea), lianas, yerbs (e.g. Urtica, Parietaria), or, rarely, trees (Dendrocnide, Cecropia).

Leafs are uisually enteer an beir stipules. Urticatin (stingin) hairs are eften present.

Urticaceae hae usually unisexual flouers an can be baith monoecious or dioecious. Thay are pollinatit bi the wind. Maist disperse their pollen whan the stamens are matur an their filaments straichten explosively, a peculiar an conspicuously specialised mechanism.

Genera (Partial leet) eedit

Image gallery eedit

See also eedit

References eedit

  1. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) (17 Januar 2003). "Family: Urticaceae Juss., nom. cons". Taxonomy for Plants. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Archived frae the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 24 Apryle 2008.
  2. "Metatrophis F. Br". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 16 Januar 2009. Retrieved 11 Mairch 2009.[deid airtin]