The Datiscaceae are a family of

dicotyledon The dicotyledons, also known as dicots (or, more rarely, dicotyls), are one of the two groups into which all the flowering plants (angiosperms) were formerly divided. The name refers to one of the typical characteristics of the group: namely, ...

ous plants, containing two species of the genus ''Datisca''. Two other genera, ''

Octomeles ''Octomeles'' is a monotypic genus of plant in family Tetramelaceae. The sole species is ''Octomeles sumatrana'', sometimes written ''O. sumatranum''. ''Octomeles sumatrana'', commonly called Benuang, or Ilimo, is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Ma ...

'' and ''

Tetrameles ''Tetrameles'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Tetramelaceae with one species, ''Tetrameles nudiflora''. It grows as a large deciduous tree and is found across southern Asia from India through southeast Asia, Malesia, and into northe ...

'', are now classified in the family

Tetramelaceae The Tetramelaceae are a family of plants in the order Cucurbitales, containing two genera of mostly Asian, large trees, ''Octomeles'' and ''Tetrameles'', each with a single species. These genera were formerly placed in the Datiscaceae,van Steeni ...

. Datiscaceae are large herbaceous plants, with alternate and pinnate leaves. They are actinorhizal plants, that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots, and are the only ones that are non-woody, although non-actinorrhizal plants also fix nitrogen, such as the

legume Legumes are plants in the pea family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seeds of such plants. When used as a dry grain for human consumption, the seeds are also called pulses. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consum ...

Species

The genus ''Datisca'' contains two or three species; two from Asia and one from North America. The species '' Datisca cannabina'' is found in Crete and Turkey, and closely related '' Datisca nepalensis'' is found in the

Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...

, and is sometimes included in ''D. cannabina''. It grows to about 2.0 m tall, and in May to August it produces small greenish-yellow flowers. This species is strictly

dioecious Dioecy ( ; ; adj. dioecious, ) is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproduction is ...

, with male and female flowers on different plants. It is grown for ornamental foliage and can be used to produce a

laxative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...

and a yellow dye. The North American species '' Datisca glomerata'' is native to California, Nevada, and Mexico. This species is more or less dioecious, except that female plants may possess some bisexual flowers, as well.

References

Datiscaceae Cucurbitales genera {{Cucurbitales-stub