''Loasa'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Loasaceae
Loasaceae is a family of 15–20 genera and about 200–260 species of flowering plants in the order Cornales, native to the Americas and Africa. Members of the family include annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants, and a few shrubs ...
. The genus contains about 100 species native to
Central and
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
.
Species of ''Loasa'' are prickly
herbs or
shrubs that have
nettle
{{redirect, Nettle
Nettle refers to plants with stinging hairs, particularly those of the genus '' Urtica''. It can also refer to plants which resemble ''Urtica'' species in appearance but do not have stinging hairs. Plants called "nettle" includ ...
-like stinging hairs.
Some species of ''Loasa'' are grown as
ornamental plant
Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...
s and are known as Chile nettle. Its flowers have five yellow petals covering united stamens and distinctive large coloured nectaries. ''
Caiophora'' is a closely related genus that also has stinging hairs and is found on rocky slopes of the
Andes
The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...
.
Selected Species
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Loasa acanthifolia''
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Loasa acerifolia''
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Loasa argentina''
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Loasa arnottiana''
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Loasa caespitosa''
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Loasa elongata''
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Loasa elongata''
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Loasa filicifolia''
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Loasa floribunda''
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Loasa hastata''
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Loasa heterophylla''
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Loasa humilis''
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Loasa illapelina''
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Loasa incurva''
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Loasa insons''
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Loasa mollensis''
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Loasa multifida''
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Loasa nitida''
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Loasa pallida''
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Loasa paradoxa''
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Loasa placei''
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Loasa prostrata''
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Loasa sclareifolia''
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Loasa sigmoidea''
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Loasa tricolor''
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Loasa triloba''
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Loasa unguiculata''
References
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Loasaceae
Cornales genera
{{Cornales-stub