| 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 |
| Species: | S. ramalana |
| Binomial name | |
| Spenceria ramalana Trimen | |
| Varieties | |
Spenceria ramalana is the lone species in the plant genus Spenceria, known by two varieties. 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. The Chinese name, ma ti huang , can be translated to mean "yellow horseshoe".
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 honour of Trimen's friend, and fellow botanist, Spencer Moore, who was employed at the 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." As the species was collected from a mountain named Ra-Ma-La, 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).
Habitat
Spenceria ramalana inhabits limestone soil on montane slopes and meadows (elev. 3000–5000 m.)
Uses
Both varieties of S. ramalana have been used locally in traditional folk medicine.
References
- ^ 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. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- ^ "Spenceria ramalana". Flora of China. 9. eFloras: 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.
- ^ Henry Trimen; S. Le M. Moore, eds. (1879). "On Spenceria, A New Genus of Rosacaea, from Western China". Journal of Botany, British and Foreign. New series. VIII. London, 54, Hatton Garden: West, Newman & Co.: 97–99.
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External links
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Spenceria | |
| Spenceria ramalana |
|