Spenceria
| Spenceria ramalana | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Tribe: | Sanguisorbeae |
| Subtribe: | Agrimoniinae |
| Genus: | Spenceria Trimen [1] |
| Species: | S. ramalana |
| Binomial name | |
| Spenceria ramalana Trimen [1] | |
| Varieties | |
| |
Spenceria ramalana is the lone species in the plant genus Spenceria,[3] known by two varieties.[2] S. ramalana grows from 18–32 cm. tall, and puts out yellow flowers from July through August; bearing fruit (yellowish-brown achenes) from September to October.[2] The Chinese name, ma ti huang [马蹄黄],[2] can be translated to mean "yellow horseshoe".[4]
Etymology
Henry Trimen, both the genus, and binomial authority of Spenceria, and S. ramalana, respectively, gave an explanation of how he arrived at these names: the genus name was given in honor of Trimen's friend, and fellow botanist, Spencer Moore, who was employed at Kew Herbarium. Trimen thought about choosing a name commemorating the collector of the species, one Captain Gill, R.E., but decided against it, as there already was a genus Gilia (Polemoniaceae), and he wished to avoid, in his words, "the formation of another of precisely similar sound." [5] As the species was collected from a mountain named Ra-Ma-La,[5] it is likely that the specific epithet "ramalana" was chosen as a toponym (the suffix "-ana" meaning "belonging to", hence "from Ra-Ma-La").
Distribution
Spenceria ramalana is native to Bhutan and China (in the provinces of Sichuan, Xizang (Tibet), and Yunnan).[1]
Habitat
S. ramalana inhabits limestone soil on montane slopes and meadows (elev. 3000–5000 m.)[2]
Uses
Both varieties of S. ramalana have been used locally in traditional folk medicine.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 The genus Spenceria, and its type species Spenceria ramalana, were first described and published in Journal of Botany, British and Foreign. London 17: 97. 1879 GRIN (October 12, 2004). "Spenceria ramalana information from NPGS/GRIN". Taxonomy for Plants. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Spenceria ramalana". Flora of China (eFloras) 9: 384. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- ↑ GRIN. "Species in GRIN for genus Spenceria". Taxonomy for Plants. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Spenceria ramalana at Flora of China, as translated through GoogleTranslate". Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- 1 2 One can find the cited quotations on a photo of the page from the journal, edited by Henry Trimen, M.B., F.L.S. British Museum; assisted by S. Le M. Moore, F.L.S. Royal Herbarium, Kew (1879). "On Spenceria, A New Genus of Rosacaea, from Western China". Journal of botany, British and foreign; Illustrated with plates (London, 54, Hatton Garden: West, Newman & Co.). N. S., VIII: 97. Cite uses deprecated parameter
|coauthors=(help) The remainder of the text for S. ramalana can be found on the next page; and Trimen's sketch on the final page.
