- Datisca
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Datisca 
Datisca cannabina Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Cucurbitales Family: Datiscaceae Genus: Datisca Datiscaceae are a family of Dicotyledonous plants, containing two species of the genus Datisca. Two other genera, Octomeles and Tetrameles are now classified in the Tetramelaceae family.
Datiscaceae are slim herbaceous plants, with alternate and pennate leaves.
They are actinorhizal plants, that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots, and are the only ones that are not a tree or shrub, although there are non-actinorrhizal plants that also fix nitrogen, like legumes.
Species
The genus Datisca contains two species; one from Asia and one from North America.[1]
The species Datisca cannabina is found from Crete and Turkey all the way to the Himalayas (as far east as Nepal). It grows to about two meters tall and in May to August it produces small yellow flowers. It is grown for ornamental foliage and can produce a laxative or a yellow dye.[2][3] It looks like hemp.[4]
The North American species Datisca glomerata is native to California and Nevada.[5]
References
- ^ Willis Linn Jepson (1936). A Flora of California: Volume II Capparidaceae to Cornacea. pp. 537. http://bscit.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/display_page?page=541&elib_id=3062&format=jpeg.
- ^ "Datisca cannabina L.". Nepal Checklist. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=110&taxon_id=220003876. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "Datisca cannabina". Flora of Pakistan. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=220003876. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "Datisca cannabina (plant)". Encyclopædia Britannica online. http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-152267/Datisca-cannabina. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "Datisca glomerata (K. Presl) Baill. (Durango root)". PLANTS. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DAGL2. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
External links
- "Datiscaceae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=22334.
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