Biology:Spenceria

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Short description: Genus of plants

Spenceria
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Rosoideae
Tribe: Sanguisorbeae
Subtribe: Agrimoniinae
Genus: Spenceria
Trimen[1]
Species:
S. ramalana
Binomial name
Spenceria ramalana
Trimen [1]
Varieties[2]
  • S. r. var. parviflora (Stapf) Kitam.
  • S. r. var. ramalana (autonym)

Spenceria ramalana is the lone species in the plant genus Spenceria,[3] known by two varieties.[2] S. ramalana grows from 18–32 cm. tall, and puts out yellow flowers from July through August; bearing fruit (yellowish-brown achenes) from September to October.[2] The Chinese name, ma ti huang [马蹄黄],[2] can be translated to mean "yellow horseshoe".[4]

Etymology

Henry Trimen, both the genus, and binomial authority of Spenceria, and S. ramalana, respectively, gave an explanation of how he arrived at these names: the genus name was given in honor of Trimen's friend, and fellow botanist, Spencer Moore, who was employed at Kew Herbarium. Trimen thought about choosing a name commemorating the collector of the species, one Captain Gill, R.E., but decided against it, as there already was a genus Gilia (Polemoniaceae), and he wished to avoid, in his words, "the formation of another of precisely similar sound."[5] As the species was collected from a mountain named Ra-Ma-La,[5] it is likely that the specific epithet "ramalana" was chosen as a toponym (the suffix "-ana" meaning "belonging to", hence "from Ra-Ma-La").

Distribution

Spenceria ramalana is native to Bhutan and China (in the provinces of Sichuan, Xizang (Tibet), and Yunnan).[1]

Habitat

Spenceria ramalana inhabits limestone soil on montane slopes and meadows (elev. 3000–5000 m.)[2]

Uses

Both varieties of S. ramalana have been used locally in traditional folk medicine.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2  The genus Spenceria, and its type species Spenceria ramalana, were first described and published in Journal of Botany, British and Foreign. London 17: 97. 1879 {{citation | mode = cs1 | title = Spenceria ramalana | work = Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) | url = https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?35218 | publisher = [[Organization:Agricultural Research ServAgricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | access-date = June 19, 2011 }}
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Spenceria ramalana". Flora of China (eFloras) 9: 384. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200011727. Retrieved June 19, 2011. 
  3. GRIN. "Species in GRIN for genus Spenceria". Taxonomy for Plants. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. https://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?11351. Retrieved June 19, 2011. 
  4. "Spenceria ramalana at Flora of China, as translated through GoogleTranslate". https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.efloras.org%2Fflorataxon.aspx%3Fflora_id%3D2%26taxon_id%3D200011727. Retrieved June 19, 2011. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 Henry Trimen, ed (1879). "On Spenceria, A New Genus of Rosacaea, from Western China". Journal of Botany, British and Foreign (London, 54, Hatton Garden: West, Newman & Co.) N. S., VIII: 97–99. https://archive.org/stream/journalofbotanyb17trim#page/96/mode/2up. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry