Boehmeria
| Boehmeria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Boehmeria grandis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Urticaceae |
| Genus: | Boehmeria Jacq. |
| Species | |
|
50 to 100 species, see text | |
Boehmeria is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the nettle family Urticaceae, native to Asia and North America. The species include herbaceous perennials, shrubs and small trees. Although related to the similar-looking species of the stinging nettles of genus Urtica, species of Boehmeria do not have stinging hairs. Because of the similarity in appearance, some species are commonly called "false nettles."
This genus is named in honor of the German botanist, Georg Rudolf Boehmer.
Cultivation and uses
One species, ramie (Boehmeria nivea) is an important fibre crop. Some are also used as ornamental plants.
Boehmeria species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bedellia boehmeriella, which feeds exclusively on B. grandis.
Species
- Boehmeria biloba
- Boehmeria boninensis
- Boehmeria calophleba
- Boehmeria cylindrica
- Boehmeria excelsa
- Boehmeria grandis
- Boehmeria jamaicensis
- Boehmeria macrophylla
- Boehmeria nivea - ramie
- Boehmeria platyphylla
- Boehmeria platanifolia
- Boehmeria stipularis
- Boehmeria tenacissima - green ramie
References
External links
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Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Bœhmeria. |