Elatostema is a genus of flowering plants containing approximately 350 known species in the nettle family Urticaceae,[1] native to tropical forest clearings throughout Australasia, Asia and Africa.[2] There may be as many as 1,000 species of this little-known genus, which is susceptible to deforestation and other forms of human exploitation. Some species, for instance the recently discovered E. fengshanense, show unusual adaptations to growing in deep shade in caves. DNA analysis suggests that the three genera Elastostema, Pellionia, and Pilea be grouped together as one.[3]

Elatostema
Elatostema involucratum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Tribe: Elatostemateae
Genus: Elatostema
J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
Species

See text

Elatostema repens and E. pulchra are cultivated as houseplants in temperate regions. E. repens[4] and E. repens var. pulchrum[5] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[6]

Selected species edit

References edit

  1. ^ Wei & Wang (2009). "A New Species of Elatostema(Urticaceae) from Guangxi Province, China" (PDF). Harvard Papers in Botany. 14 (2): 183–185. doi:10.3100/025.014.0210. S2CID 129569020. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  2. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  3. ^ "Discover | Natural History Museum".
  4. ^ "RHS Plantfinder -". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  5. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Elatostema repens var. pulchrum". Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  6. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 33. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b Wu, Zeng-Yuan; Wang, Wen-Tsai; Wang, Hong; Li, De-Zhu (2011). "Two new species of Elatostema (Urticaceae) from southeast Yunnan, China". PhytoKeys (7): 57–62. doi:10.3897/phytokeys.7.2022. PMC 3261043. PMID 22287926.