Boerhavia

Taxobox
name = "Boerhavia"


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Spiderling ("Boerhavia intermedia")
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Nyctaginaceae
genus = "Boerhavia"
genus_authority = L.
subdivision_ranks = species
subdivision = See text

"Boerhavia", the spiderlings, is a genus of about 40 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the family Nyctaginaceae. The common name refers to the appearance of a spider or spider's web given by the numerous long, slender and interlocking stems of the inflorescences. Named for H. Boerhaave, Dutch botanist.

They are native to mostly warm tropical areas.

;Selected species
*"Boerhavia anisophylla" Torr. -- wineflower
*"Boerhavia coccinea" P. Mill. -- scarlet spiderling
*"Boerhavia coulteri" (Hook. f.) S. Wats. -- Coulter spiderling, Coulter's spiderling
*"Boerhavia diffusa" L. -- red spiderling
*"Boerhavia erecta" L. -- erect spiderling
*"Boerhavia gracillima" Heimerl -- slim-stalk spiderling, slimstalk spiderling
*"Boerhavia herbstii" Fosberg -- alena
*"Boerhavia intermedia" M.E. Jones -- five-wing spiderling, fivewing spiderling, Jone's boerhavia
*"Boerhavia linearifolia" Gray -- narrowleaf spiderling
*"Boerhavia mathisiana" F.B. Jones -- Mathis' spiderling
*"Boerhavia megaptera" Standl. -- annual spiderling, Tucson Mountain spiderling
*"Boerhavia pterocarpa" S. Wats. -- Apache Pass spiderling
*"Boerhavia purpurascens" Gray -- purple spiderling
*"Boerhavia repens" L. --
*"Boerhavia scandens" L. -- climbing spiderling, climbing wartclub, wishbone vine
*"Boerhavia spicata" Choisy -- creeping spiderling
*"Boerhavia triquetra" S. Wats. -- slender spiderling
*"Boerhavia wrightii" Gray -- Wright's boerhavia

Cultivation and uses

Several species of "Boerhavia" are important weeds in agricultural and horticultural settings.

References and external links

* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=104164 Flora of North America: "Boerhavia"]
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?5194,5215 Jepson Manual Treatment]