Urticaceae: Difference between revisions

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Urticaceae

The Urticaceae family, commonly known as the nettle family, is a family of flowering plants. The family includes a variety of species, many of which are known for their stinging hairs. The family is part of the order Rosales and includes around 54 genera and 2,625 species.

Description

Members of the Urticaceae family are typically herbaceous plants, shrubs, or small trees. They are characterized by their opposite or alternate leaves, which are often serrated. Many species have stinging hairs that can cause skin irritation upon contact. The flowers are usually small and inconspicuous, often arranged in clusters.

Distribution

The Urticaceae family is cosmopolitan, found in a wide range of habitats from tropical to temperate regions. They are particularly diverse in tropical areas.

Notable Genera and Species

Urtica

The genus Urtica includes the well-known stinging nettles, such as Urtica dioica. These plants are known for their stinging hairs that can cause a painful rash.

Pilea

Pilea is a large genus within the family, including species like Pilea cadierei (aluminum plant) and Pilea pumila (clearweed).

Boehmeria

Boehmeria includes species such as Boehmeria nivea, commonly known as ramie, which is cultivated for its fiber.

Parietaria

Parietaria includes species like Parietaria judaica, known as pellitory-of-the-wall, which is often found growing on walls and rocky areas.

Dendrocnide

Dendrocnide includes species such as Dendrocnide meyeniana, known for its potent stinging hairs.

Uses

Many species in the Urticaceae family have economic importance. Urtica dioica is used in traditional medicine and as a food source. Boehmeria nivea is cultivated for its strong fiber, used in textiles.

Related Pages

References

Friis, I. (1989). "The Urticaceae: A systematic review." In: Kubitzki, K. (ed.), The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants.
Mabberley, D.J. (2008). "Mabberley's Plant-book: A Portable Dictionary of Plants, their Classifications, and Uses."

Gallery

Urtica dioica flowers
Diagram of Urtica flower
Pilea cadierei
Pilea pumila
Toxicodendron radicans (Poison ivy)
Elatostema umbellatum
Urtica dioica
Boehmeria nivea
Parietaria judaica
Common nettle

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Urticaceae'''
+== Urticaceae ==
-The '''Urticaceae''' is a family of flowering plants, also known as the nettle family. This family includes a number of well-known and useful plants, including the nettles, ramie, and ajlai. The Urticaceae family is distributed throughout the world, apart from the polar regions and deserts.
+The '''Urticaceae''' family, commonly known as the nettle family, is a family of flowering plants. The family includes a variety of species, many of which are known for their stinging hairs. The family is part of the order [[Rosales]] and includes around 54 genera and 2,625 species.
 == Description ==
-Members of the Urticaceae family are often herbaceous plants, but can also include shrubs and small trees. The leaves are usually simple and are often covered with stinging hairs. The flowers are small and unisexual, and the fruit is typically an achene.
+Members of the Urticaceae family are typically herbaceous plants, shrubs, or small trees. They are characterized by their opposite or alternate leaves, which are often serrated. Many species have stinging hairs that can cause skin irritation upon contact. The flowers are usually small and inconspicuous, often arranged in clusters.
-== Taxonomy ==
+== Distribution ==
-The Urticaceae family is included in the order [[Rosales]], and is divided into four subfamilies: Urticoideae, Cecropioideae, Elatostematoideae, and Boehmerioideae. There are about 54 genera and 2625 known species in this family.
+The Urticaceae family is cosmopolitan, found in a wide range of habitats from tropical to temperate regions. They are particularly diverse in tropical areas.
-== Distribution and habitat ==
+== Notable Genera and Species ==
-Urticaceae are found all over the world, from the tropics to the arctic regions. They are typically found in a variety of habitats, including forests, scrub, and disturbed ground.
+=== Urtica ===
+The genus ''[[Urtica]]'' includes the well-known stinging nettles, such as ''[[Urtica dioica]]''. These plants are known for their stinging hairs that can cause a painful rash.
+=== Pilea ===
+''[[Pilea]]'' is a large genus within the family, including species like ''Pilea cadierei'' (aluminum plant) and ''Pilea pumila'' (clearweed).
+=== Boehmeria ===
+''[[Boehmeria]]'' includes species such as ''Boehmeria nivea'', commonly known as ramie, which is cultivated for its fiber.
+=== Parietaria ===
+''[[Parietaria]]'' includes species like ''Parietaria judaica'', known as pellitory-of-the-wall, which is often found growing on walls and rocky areas.
+=== Dendrocnide ===
+''[[Dendrocnide]]'' includes species such as ''Dendrocnide meyeniana'', known for its potent stinging hairs.
 == Uses ==
-Many species within the Urticaceae family have been used for food, medicine, and fiber. For example, the [[nettle]] has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries, and [[ramie]] is used to produce a strong, silky fiber.
+Many species in the Urticaceae family have economic importance. ''Urtica dioica'' is used in traditional medicine and as a food source. ''Boehmeria nivea'' is cultivated for its strong fiber, used in textiles.
-== See also ==
+== Related Pages ==
-* [[List of Urticaceae genera]]
+* [[Rosales]]
-* [[Nettle]]
+* [[Stinging plant]]
-* [[Ramie]]
+* [[Herbaceous plant]]
 == References ==
-<references />
+* Friis, I. (1989). "The Urticaceae: A systematic review." In: Kubitzki, K. (ed.), The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants.
+* Mabberley, D.J. (2008). "Mabberley's Plant-book: A Portable Dictionary of Plants, their Classifications, and Uses."
-== External links ==
-* [http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/orders/rosalesweb.htm#Urticaceae Urticaceae] in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval. Version: 9 March 2006. http://delta-intkey.com
+== Gallery ==
-* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10850 Urticaceae] in the Flora of North America
-* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=10850 Urticaceae] in the Flora of China
-* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/family.pl?1173 Urticaceae] at the USDA
-* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Tree&id=4334&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock Urticaceae] at the NCBI
-* [http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=22096 Urticaceae] at the ITIS
-[[Category:Urticaceae| ]]
+<gallery>
-[[Category:Rosales]]
+File:Urtica-dioica(Blueten).jpg|''Urtica dioica'' flowers
-[[Category:Plant families]]
+File:Urtica_flowerdiagram.png|Diagram of ''Urtica'' flower
+File:PileaCadierei.jpg|''Pilea cadierei''
+File:Pilea_pumila2.JPG|''Pilea pumila''
+File:Poisonivy1.jpg|''Toxicodendron radicans'' (Poison ivy)
+File:Elatostema_umbellatum_2006.04.19_06.17.14-p4190208.jpg|''Elatostema umbellatum''
+File:Brennnessel_1.JPG|''Urtica dioica''
+File:Boehmeria_nivea_1.jpg|''Boehmeria nivea''
+File:Parietaria_judaica_000.jpg|''Parietaria judaica''
+File:Nettle.jpg|Common nettle
+</gallery>
-{{stub}}
+[[Category:Urticaceae]]