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.

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.

Taxonomy

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.

Distribution and habitat

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.

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.

See also

• List of Urticaceae genera
• Nettle
• Ramie

External links

• 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
• Urticaceae in the Flora of North America
• Urticaceae in the Flora of China
• Urticaceae at the USDA
• Urticaceae at the NCBI
• Urticaceae at the ITIS

Urticaceae Resources
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