| Datisca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Datisca cannabina | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Datiscaceae Dumort.[2] |
| Genus: | Datisca L.[1] |
 | |
| The range ofDatisca | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
TheDatiscaceae are a family ofdicotyledonous plants, containing two species of the genusDatisca. Two other genera,Octomeles andTetrameles, are now classified in the familyTetramelaceae.
Datiscaceae are large herbaceous plants, with alternate and pinnate leaves.
They areactinorhizal plants, that hostnitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots, and are the only ones that are non-woody, although non-actinorrhizal plants also fix nitrogen, such as thelegumes.
The genusDatisca contains two or three species;[3] two from Asia and one from North America.[4]
The speciesDatisca cannabina is found in Crete and Turkey, and closely relatedDatisca nepalensis is found in theHimalayas, and is sometimes included inD. cannabina. It grows to about 2.0 m tall, and in May to August it produces small greenish-yellow flowers. This species is strictlydioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants. It is grown for ornamental foliage and can be used to produce alaxative and a yellow dye.[5][6][7]
The North American speciesDatisca glomerata is native to California, Nevada, and Mexico.[4][8] This species is more or less dioecious, except that female plants may possess some bisexual flowers, as well.[4]
 | ThisCucurbitales article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
