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The Urticaceae are a
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 ...
, the nettle family, 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 t ...
s. The family name comes from the genus ''
Urtica ''Urtica'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Urticaceae. Many species have stinging hairs and may be called nettles or stinging nettles, although the latter name applies particularly to '' Urtica dioica''. ''Urtica'' species are food ...
''. The Urticaceae include a number of well-known and useful plants, including nettles in the genus ''Urtica'', ramie (''Boehmeria nivea''), māmaki ('' Pipturus albidus''), and ajlai ('' Debregeasia saeneb''). The family includes about 2,625 species, grouped into 53 genera according to the database of the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. An internationally important botanical research and education institution, it employs 1,100 ...
and Christenhusz and Byng (2016). The largest genera are '' Pilea'' (500 to 715 species), '' Elatostema'' (300 species), ''
Urtica ''Urtica'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Urticaceae. Many species have stinging hairs and may be called nettles or stinging nettles, although the latter name applies particularly to '' Urtica dioica''. ''Urtica'' species are food ...
'' (80 species), and '' Cecropia'' (75 species). '' Cecropia'' contains many myrmecophytes. Urticaceae species can be found worldwide, apart from the polar regions.


Description

Urticaceae species can be shrubs (e.g. '' Pilea''), lianas, herbs (e.g. ''
Urtica ''Urtica'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Urticaceae. Many species have stinging hairs and may be called nettles or stinging nettles, although the latter name applies particularly to '' Urtica dioica''. ''Urtica'' species are food ...
'', '' Parietaria''), or, rarely, trees ('' Dendrocnide'', '' Cecropia''). Their
leaves A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...
are usually entire and bear stipules. Urticating (stinging) hairs are often present. They have usually unisexual flowers and can be both
monoecious Monoecy (; adj. monoecious ) is a sexual system in seed plants where separate male and female cones or flowers are present on the same plant. It is a monomorphic sexual system alongside gynomonoecy, andromonoecy and trimonoecy. Monoecy is ...
or
dioecious Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproducti ...
. They are
wind-pollinated Anemophily or wind pollination is a form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by wind. Almost all gymnosperms are anemophilous, as are many plants in the order Poales, including grasses, sedges, and rushes. Other common anemophilo ...
. Most disperse their
pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametop ...
when the
stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the fila ...
s are mature and their filaments straighten explosively, a peculiar and conspicuously specialised mechanism.


Taxonomy

The
APG II system The APG II system (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group II system) of plant classification is the second, now obsolete, version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy that was published in April 2003 by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Gr ...
puts the Urticaceae in the order Rosales, while older systems consider them part of the Urticales, along with Ulmaceae, Moraceae, and Cannabaceae. APG still considers "old" Urticales a monophyletic group, but does not recognise it as an order on its own.


Fossil record

The
fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...
record of Urticaceae is scattered and mostly based on dispersed fruits. Twelve species based on fossil
achene An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and indehiscent (they do not o ...
s are known from the
Late Cretaceous The Late Cretaceous (100.5–66 Ma) is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous Period is divided in the geologic time scale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous Series. The Cretaceous is named after ''creta'', ...
of
Central Europe Central Europe is an area of Europe between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, based on a common historical, social and cultural identity. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Catholicism and Protestantism significantly shaped the a ...
. Most were assigned to the extant genera ''
Boehmeria ''Boehmeria'' is a genus of 47 species of flowering plants in the nettle family Urticaceae. Of the species, 33 are indigenous to the Old World and 14 to the New World; no species is indigenous to both the Old and New Worlds. The species include ...
'' (three species), '' Debregeasia'' (one species) and '' Pouzolzia'' (three species), while three species were assigned to the
extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
genus ''Urticoidea''. A Colombian fossil flora of the
Maastrichtian The Maastrichtian () is, in the ICS geologic timescale, the latest age (uppermost stage) of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or Upper Cretaceous Series, the Cretaceous Period or System, and of the Mesozoic Era or Erathem. It spanned the inte ...
stage has yielded leaves that resemble leaves of the tribe Ceropieae. In the
Cenozoic The Cenozoic ( ; ) is Earth's current geological era, representing the last 66million years of Earth's history. It is characterised by the dominance of mammals, birds and flowering plants, a cooling and drying climate, and the current configu ...
fossil leaves from the
Ypresian In the geologic timescale the Ypresian is the oldest age or lowest stratigraphic stage of the Eocene. It spans the time between , is preceded by the Thanetian Age (part of the Paleocene) and is followed by the Eocene Lutetian Age. The Ypresian ...
Allenby Formation preserve distinct
trichome Trichomes (); ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a p ...
s, and have been attributed to the Tribe Urticeae in the fossil record. The leaves had originally been identified as ''
Rubus ''Rubus'' is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae, with over 1,350 species. Raspberries, blackberries, and dewberries are common, widely distributed members of the genus. Most of the ...
'' by earlier workers on the Eocene Okanagan Highlands, but Devore ''et al'' (2020) interpreted the preserved hairs along the stem and major veins as stinging trichomes, rather than simple hairs or thorns.


Phylogeny

Modern
molecular phylogenetics Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
suggest the following relationships (see also ):


Tribes and genera

* Boehmerieae Gaudich. 1830 **'' Archiboehmeria'' C.J. Chen 1980 (1 sp.) **'' Astrothalamus'' C.B. Rob. 1911 (1 sp.) **''
Boehmeria ''Boehmeria'' is a genus of 47 species of flowering plants in the nettle family Urticaceae. Of the species, 33 are indigenous to the Old World and 14 to the New World; no species is indigenous to both the Old and New Worlds. The species include ...
'' Jacq. 1760 (80 spp.) **'' Chamabainia'' Wight 1853 (1–2 spp.) **'' Cypholophus'' Wedd. 1854 (15 spp.) **'' Debregeasia'' Gaudich. 1844 (4 spp.) **'' Gibbsia'' Rendle 1917 (2 spp.) **'' Gonostegia'' Turcz. 1846 (5 spp.) **'' Hemistylus'' Benth. 1843 (4 spp.) **'' Neodistemon'' Babu & A. N. Henry 1970 (1 sp.) **''
Neraudia ''Neraudia'' is a genus of plants in family Urticaceae. All five species are endemic to Hawaii.Nothocnide'' Blume 1856 (4 spp.) **''
Oreocnide ''Oreocnide'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Urticaceae. Its native range is Tropical and Subtropical Asia. Species Species: *'' Oreocnide boniana'' *'' Oreocnide frutescens'' *'' Oreocnide integrifolia'' *'' Oreocn ...
'' Miq. 1851 (15 spp.) **'' Phenax'' Wedd. 1854 (12 spp.) **''
Pipturus ''Pipturus'' is a flowering plant genus in the nettle family, Urticaceae. Selected species * ''Pipturus albidus'' ( Hook. & Arn.) A.Gray ex H.Mann – ''Māmaki'' ( Hawaii) * '' Pipturus arborescens'' ( Link) C.B.Rob., 1911 * ''Piptur ...
'' Wedd. 1854 (30 spp.) **'' Pouzolzia'' Gaudich. 1826 830/small> (70 spp.) **'' Rousselia'' Gaudich. 1826 830/small> (3 spp.) **'' Sarcochlamys'' Gaudich. 1844 (1 sp.) * Cecropieae Gaudich. 1830 **'' Cecropia'' Loefl. 1758 (70–80 spp.) **'' Coussapoa'' Aubl. 1775 (>50 spp.) **'' Leucosyke'' Zoll. & Moritzi 1845 (35 spp.) **'' Maoutia'' Wedd. 1854 (15 spp.) **'' Musanga'' R. Br. in Tuckey 1818 (2 spp.) **'' Myrianthus'' P. Beauv. 1804
805 __NOTOC__ Year 805 ( DCCCV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Siege of Patras: Local Slavic tribes of the Peloponnese lay siege to ...
/small> (7 spp.) **''
Pourouma ''Pourouma'' is a genus of at least 20–25 species of flowering plants in the family Urticaceae, or alternately, the Cecropiaceae, native to tropical regions of Central and South America.Germplasm Resources Information Network''Pourouma''/ref ...
'' Aubl. 1775 (>50 spp.) * Elatostemateae Gaudich. 1830 **'' Aboriella'' Bennet (1 sp.) **''
Achudemia ''Achudemia'' is a genus of plants belonging to the family Urticaceae. It is sometimes also treated as a section of the genus ''Pilea ''Pilea'', with 600–715 species, is the largest genus of flowering plants in the nettle family Urticaceae. ...
'' Blume 1856 **'' Elatostema'' J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. 1775 (300 spp.) **''
Gyrotaenia ''Gyrotaenia'' is a genus of plants in the family Urticaceae The Urticaceae are a family, the nettle family, of flowering plants. The family name comes from the genus ''Urtica''. The Urticaceae include a number of well-known and useful plant ...
'' Griseb. 1861 (4 spp.) **'' Lecanthus'' Wedd. 1854 (1 sp.) **'' Meniscogyne'' Gagnep. 1928 (2 spp.) **'' Myriocarpa'' Benth. 1844 846/small> (18 spp.) **'' Pellionia'' Gaudich. 1826 (60 spp.) **'' Petelotiella'' Gagnep. in Lecomte 1929 (1 spp.) **'' Pilea'' Lindl. 1821 (250 spp.) **''
Procris In Greek mythology, Procris ( grc, Πρόκρις, ''gen''.: Πρόκριδος) was an Athenian princess as the third daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens and his wife, Praxithea, daughter of Phrasimus and Diogeneia. Homer mentions her in ...
'' Comm. ex Juss. 1789 (20 spp.) **'' Sarcopilea'' Urb. 1912 (1 sp.) * Forsskaoleeae Gaudich. 1830 **'' Australina'' Gaudich. 1830 (2 spp.) **''
Didymodoxa ''Didymodoxa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Urticaceae. Its native range is Eritrea to Southern Africa. Species: *''Didymodoxa caffra'' *''Didymodoxa capensis'' References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q8470887 Urticaceae ...
'' E. Mey. ex Wedd. 1857 (2 spp.) **'' Droguetia'' Gaudich. 1830 (7 spp.) **'' Forsskaolea'' L. 1764 (6 spp.) * Parietarieae Gaudich. 1830 **'' Gesnouinia'' Gaudich. 1830 (2 spp.) **'' Parietaria'' L. 1753 (20 spp.) **''
Soleirolia ''Soleirolia soleirolii'' (, syn. ''Helxine soleirolii'') is a plant in the nettle family. It has a number of common names, including baby's tears, angel's tears, peace in the home, bits and pieces, bread and cheese, Corsican creeper, Corsican ...
'' Gaudich. 1830 (1 sp.) * Urticeae Lamarck & DC. 1806 **'' Dendrocnide'' Miq. 1851 (27 spp.) **''
Discocnide ''Discocnide'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Urticaceae. The only species is ''Discocnide mexicana''. Its native range is Mexico to Central America. References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q8560335, from2=Q15613057 ...
'' Chew 1965 (1 sp.) **''
Girardinia ''Girardinia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Urticaceae. Its native range is the tropical and subtropical Old World to Russian Far East. It is found in the countries of Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, China, ...
'' Gaudich. 1830 (2 spp.) **'' Hesperocnide'' Torr. 1857 (2 spp.) **'' Laportea'' Gaudich. 1826 830/small> (21 spp.) **'' Nanocnide'' Blume 1856 (2 spp.) **''
Obetia ''Obetia'' is a genus of dioecious plants in the family Urticaceae The Urticaceae are a family, the nettle family, of flowering plants. The family name comes from the genus ''Urtica''. The Urticaceae include a number of well-known and useful ...
'' Gaudich. 1844 (7 spp.) **'' Poikilospermum'' Zipp. ex Miq. 1864 (20 spp.) **'' Touchardia'' Gaudich. 1847 (1–2 spp.) **'' Urera'' Gaudich. 1826 830/small> (35 spp.) **''
Urtica ''Urtica'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Urticaceae. Many species have stinging hairs and may be called nettles or stinging nettles, although the latter name applies particularly to '' Urtica dioica''. ''Urtica'' species are food ...
'' L. 1753—nettle (80 spp.) **'' Zhengyia'' T. Deng, D.G. Zhang & H. Sun 2013 (1 sp.) *'' Incertae sedis'' **'' Metatrophis'' F. Br. 1935 (1 sp.) **''
Parsana ''Parsana'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Urticaceae. It just contains one species, ''Parsana malekiana'' Parsa & Maleki It is native to Iran. The genus name of ''Parsana'' is in honour of Ahmad Parsa (1907– ...
'' Parsa & Maleki 1952 (1 sp.)


Diseases

The Urticaceae are subject to many bacterial, viral, fungal, and nematode parasitic diseases. Among them are: * Bacterial leaf spot, caused by ''Xanthomonas campestris'' which affects '' Pellionia'', '' Pilea'', and other genera * Anthracnose, a fungal disease caused by ''Colletotrichum capsici'' which affects ''Pilea'' * Myrothecium leaf spot, a fungal disease caused by ''Myrothecium roridum'' which affects plants throughout the Urticaceae, as well as other angiosperms * Phytophthora blight, a water mold disease caused by ''Phytophthora nicotianae'' which affects ''Pilea'' * Southern blight, a fungal disease caused by ''Athelia rolfsii'' which affects both ''Pellionia'' and ''Pilea''


Image gallery

Image:PileaCadierei.jpg, ''Pilea cadierei'' Image:Pilea pumila2.JPG, ''Pilea pumila'' Image:Poisonivy1.jpg, ''Dendrocnide'' sp. Image:Elatostema umbellatum 2006.04.19 06.17.14-p4190208.jpg, ''Elatostema umbellatum'' Image:Brennnessel 1.JPG, ''Urtica dioica'' Image:Boehmeria nivea 1.jpg, ''Boehmeria nivea'' Image:Parietaria judaica 000.jpg, ''Parietaria judaica'' flowers Image:Nettle.jpg, ''Urtica dioica'' stinging hairs File:咬人狗 Dendrocnide meyeniana 20221020185903 03.jpg, Leaves of ''Dendrocnide meyeniana'' File:蕁麻(咬人貓) Urtica thunbergiana 20220406201651.jpg, The dotted bumps on the leaves of ''Urtica thunbergiana''


References


Further reading

* *


External links

* continuously updated. {{Taxonbar, from=Q156332 Urticaceae, Rosid families