''Loasa'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Loasaceae Loasaceae is a family of 15–20 genera and about 200–260 species of flowering plants in the order Cornales, native to the Americas and Africa. Members of the family include annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants, and a few shrubs ...

. The genus contains about 100 species native to Central and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

. of which ''

Loasa vulcanica ''Loasa vulcanica'' is a shrub in the family Loasaceae native to Ecuador. The solitary flowers have five white, concave petals, each with a cluster of stamens resting in the cavity. There are also five heart-shaped staminodes with brightly colo ...

'' is perhaps the best known. Species of ''Loasa'' are prickly

herb Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typically distingu ...

s or

shrub A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...

s that have

nettle Nettle refers to plants with stinging hairs, particularly those of the genus '' Urtica''. It can also refer to plants which resemble ''Urtica'' species in appearance but do not have stinging hairs. Plants called "nettle" include: * ball nettle ...

-like stinging hairs. Some species of ''Loasa'' are grown as

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

s and are known as Chile nettle. Its flowers have five yellow petals covering united stamens and distinctive large coloured nectaries. '' Caiophora'' is a closely related genus that also has stinging hairs and is found on rocky slopes of the

Andes The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...

Selected Species

*'' Loasa acanthifolia'' *'' Loasa acerifolia'' *'' Loasa argentina'' *'' Loasa arnottiana'' *'' Loasa caespitosa'' *'' Loasa elongata'' *'' Loasa elongata'' *'' Loasa filicifolia'' *'' Loasa floribunda'' *'' Loasa hastata'' *''

Loasa heterophylla ''Loasa'' is a genus (biology), genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Loasaceae. The genus contains about 100 species native to Central America, Central and South America. of which ''Loasa vulcanica'' is perhaps the best known ...

'' *'' Loasa humilis'' *'' Loasa illapelina'' *'' Loasa incurva'' *'' Loasa insons'' *'' Loasa mollensis'' *'' Loasa multifida'' *'' Loasa nitida'' *'' Loasa pallida'' *'' Loasa paradoxa'' *'' Loasa placei'' *'' Loasa prostrata'' *'' Loasa sclareifolia'' *'' Loasa sigmoidea'' *'' Loasa tricolor'' *'' Loasa triloba'' *'' Loasa unguiculata'' *''

References

* Loasaceae Cornales genera {{Cornales-stub