Hesperocnide

Hesperocnide tenella

Hesperocnide is a plant genus in the family of the Nettle family ( Urticaceae ). It includes the two types Hesperocnide sandwicencis of the island of Hawaii and Hesperocnide tenella from California and Mexico.

• 4.1 Notes and references

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Hesperocnide species are annuals, herbaceous plants. They contain latex. The green parts of the plants have stinging hairs and not stinging hairs. The upright, spreading or recurved stems have few or numerous stinging hairs. The oppositely arranged leaves are continually divided into petiole and leaf blade. The simple leaf blade is more or less broadly ovate. In the uppermost leaves the leaf blades are sometimes elliptical. The leaf margins are coarsely toothed or incised. The leaf blade is three to five annoying. The cystoliths are extended. Stipules are present.

Generative features

Hesperocnide species are monoecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ). The pendant more or less spherical, extended - racemose or paniculate inflorescences contain many flowers. Bracts are absent. The unisexual flowers are borne in an inflorescence in all-male or all-female, loose to dense tangles. The four equal bracts of the male flowers are free, while they overlap and flattened in the bud. There are four stamens with kidney-shaped anthers. The rudimentary stamp of the male flowers is obovate to urn -shaped. The four bracts of female flowers are tubular or urn- shaped adherent, uniform kurzborstig hairy with a nearly closed upper end and have two or four tiny teeth. The female flowers have no staminodes. The ovaries are. There is no recognizable style. The durable scar is tufted.

The almost sessile ovoid achene is flattened laterally. The durable perianth encloses the achene marsupial dense and covered with fine, hooked hairs.

The chromosome number is x = 12

Occurrence

Hesperocnide sandwicencis comes on the island of Hawaii in subalpine or alpine highlands at altitudes 1780-2600 meters in front. Hesperocnide tenella thrives in California and Mexico's northern Baja California on slopes, moist, shady locations in chaparral, deserts, grasslands and " forest lands " or open areas at altitudes from 0 to 1000 meters.

System

The genus Hesperocnide 1857 by John Torrey in Reports of explorations and surveys: to Ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, made under the direction of the Secretary of War, 4 ( 5) pp. 139-140 established. Type species is Hesperocnide tenella Torr.

The scientific genus name is derived from the Greek Hesperocnide terms Hespera for west and knide for hives from. This is an allusion to the spread of Hesperocnide tenella on the west coast of North America.

The genus Hesperocnide includes two types:

• Hesperocnide sandwicencis Wedd.
• Hesperocnide tenella Torr.