Spenceria

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]

Spenceria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Rosoideae
Tribe: Sanguisorbeae
Subtribe: Agrimoniinae
Genus: Spenceria
Trimen [1]
Species:
S. ramalana
Binomial name
Spenceria ramalana
Trimen [1]
Varieties[2]
  • S. r. var. parviflora (Stapf) Kitam.
  • S. r. var. ramalana (autonym)

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

Spenceria 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.  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 "Spenceria ramalana". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  2. "Spenceria ramalana". Flora of China. eFloras. 9: 384. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  3. 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.
  4. "Spenceria ramalana at Flora of China, as translated through GoogleTranslate". Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  5. Henry Trimen; S. Le M. Moore, eds. (1879). "On Spenceria, A New Genus of Rosacaea, from Western China". Journal of Botany, British and Foreign. London, 54, Hatton Garden: West, Newman & Co. N. S., VIII: 97–99.CS1 maint: location (link)
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