Biology:Datisca cannabina

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Short description: Species of plant in the genus Datisca

Datisca cannabina
Datisca cannabina 002.JPG
Male flowers
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Datiscaceae
Genus: Datisca
Species:
D. cannabina
Binomial name
Datisca cannabina
Synonyms[2]

Datisca cannabina, called false hemp, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Datisca, family Datiscaceae, native to the Aegean Islands, Crete, Cyprus, Anatolia, the Levant, the Transcaucasus, Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the western Himalayas and Nepal.[2] It is one of the very few species known to have true androdioecy, meaning it has a mix of male and hermaphroditic individuals.[3]

This tall herbaceous perennial grows to a maximum height and spread of 2.5 m (8.2 ft), with ash-like clusters of bright green leaves, and arching shoots covered in tassels of small green and white flowers during summer. It is hardy but prefers a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade.[4]

Local artisans use its roots to produce a fast yellow dye.[5]

References

  1. Sp. Pl.: 1037 (1753)
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Datisca cannabina L.". Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:316093-1. 
  3. Wolf, Diana E.; Rieseberg, Loren H.; Spencer, Stanley C. (1997). "The genetic mechanism of sex determination in the androdioecious flowering plant, Datisca glomerata (Datiscaceae)". Heredity 78 (2): 190–204. doi:10.1038/hdy.1997.27. 
  4. "Datisca cannabina". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/5352/datisca-cannabina/details. 
  5. Liotard, L. (1881). Memorandum on Dyes of Indian Growth and Production. Calcutta: Home Revenue and Agricultural Department Press. pp. 89–96. "…roots of alkabir (Datisca cannabina)…" 

Wikidata ☰ Q15533257 entry