Urticaceae

Urticaceae species can be herbs (e.g. Urtica, Parietaria), shrubs(e.g. Pilea), hemi-epiphytes, or, rarely, trees (Dendrocnide, Cecropia). Their leaves are usually entire and bear stipules. Urticating hairs are often present. These urticating trichomes are an herbivory defense against primarily mammals, but also defend against invertebrate herbivory as well.. Pistillate flowers have superior pseudomonomerous ovaries extending to one style. This family has a gynoecium with two carpels, and a perianth of four to five. Plants are then wind-pollinated. Fruits are achenes.Additional characteristics represented by members in the family are leaves with cystolith or silicone accumulation. and Urtica ferox. ,'' East-Asian Nettle == Uses ==

Many members of Urticaceae are cultivated and foraged worldwide for various uses, including food, medicines, and to create tools. Some notable species include: • Pouzolzia mixta (soap nettle), is used as a culinary herb, made into rope, and is a source of traditional medicine in several southern African countries. • Urtica angustifolia, which grows throughout eastern Asia, is a important traditional Chinese medicine plant. • Cecropia obtusa, Laportea aestuans, and Urera baccifera are all species used as anti-inflammatory and diabetes medicine in Brazil. ==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 • 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 ==Fossil record==

The fossil record of Urticaceae is scattered and mostly based on dispersed fruits. Twelve species based on fossil achenes are known from the Late Cretaceous of Central Europe. Most were assigned to the extant genera Boehmeria (three species), Debregeasia (one species) and Pouzolzia (three species), while three species were assigned to the extinct genus Urticoidea. A Colombian fossil flora of the Maastrichtian stage has yielded leaves that resemble leaves of the tribe Ceropieae. In the Cenozoic fossil leaves from the Ypresian Allenby Formation preserve distinct trichomes, and have been attributed to the Tribe Urticeae in the fossil record. The leaves had originally been identified as Rubus 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. ==Taxonomy==

Classification The APG II system puts the Urticaceae in the order Rosales, while older systems consider them part of the Urticales, along with Ulmaceae, Moraceae, and Cannabaceae. Urticaceae is a monophyletic group. Phylogeny Modern molecular phylogenetics 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 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 Gaudich. 1830 (5 spp.) • Nothocnide Blume 1856 (4 spp.) • Oreocnide Miq. 1851 (15 spp.) • Phenax Wedd. 1854 (12 spp.) • Pipturus Wedd. 1854 (30 spp.) • Pouzolzia Gaudich. 1826 [1830] (70 spp.) • Rousselia Gaudich. 1826 [1830] (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 [1805] (7 spp.) • Pourouma Aubl. 1775 (>50 spp.) • Elatostemateae Gaudich. 1830 • Aboriella Bennet (1 sp.) (synonym of Achudemia • Achudemia Blume 1856 • Elatostema J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. 1775 (300 spp.) • Gyrotaenia Griseb. 1861 (4 spp.) • Lecanthus Wedd. 1854 (4 sp.) (syn. Meniscogyne Gagnep. 1928) • Myriocarpa Benth. 1844 [1846] (18 spp.) • Pellionia Gaudich. 1826 (60 spp.) • Petelotiella Gagnep. in Lecomte 1929 (1 spp.) • Pilea Lindl. 1821 (606 spp.) (syn. Sarcopilea Urb. 1912) • Procris Comm. ex Juss. 1789 (24 spp.) • Forsskaoleeae Gaudich. 1830 • Australina Gaudich. 1830 (2 spp.) • Didymodoxa 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 Gaudich. 1830 (1 sp.) • Urticeae Lamarck & DC. 1806 • Dendrocnide Miq. 1851 (27 spp.) • Discocnide Chew 1965 (1 sp.) • Girardinia Gaudich. 1830 (2 spp.) • Hesperocnide Torr. 1857 (2 spp.) • Laportea Gaudich. 1826 [1830] (21 spp.) • Nanocnide Blume 1856 (2 spp.) • Obetia Gaudich. 1844 (7 spp.) • Poikilospermum Zipp. ex Miq. 1864 (20 spp.) • Touchardia Gaudich. 1847 (1–2 spp.) • Urera Gaudich. 1826 [1830] (35 spp.) • Urtica L. 1753—nettle (80 spp.) • Zhengyia T.Deng, D.G.Zhang & H.Sun 2013 (1 sp.) • Incertae sedis • Capsulea (1 sp.) • Elatostematoides (25 sp.) • Metapilea (1 sp.) • Metatrophis F.Br. 1935 (1 sp.) • Parsana Parsa & Maleki 1952 (1 sp.) • Scepocarpus (14 sp.) == 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==