{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Datisca cannabina.jpg |image_caption = ''Datisca cannabina'' |parent_authority = Dumort.<ref name=APGIII2009>{{Cite journal |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free |hdl=10654/18083 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> |taxon = Datisca |authority = L.<ref name=IPNI>{{cite book|title=International Plant Names Index|volume=2|url=http://ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=14142-1&back_page=%2Fipni%2FeditAdvPlantNameSearch.do%3Ffind_infragenus%3D%26find_isAPNIRecord%3Dtrue%26find_geoUnit%3D%26find_includePublicationAuthors%3Dtrue%26find_addedSince%3D%26find_family%3D%26find_genus%3DDatisca%26find_sortByFamily%3Dtrue%26find_isGCIRecord%3Dtrue%26find_infrafamily%3D%26find_rankToReturn%3Dall%26find_publicationTitle%3D%26find_authorAbbrev%3D%26find_infraspecies%3D%26find_includeBasionymAuthors%3Dtrue%26find_modifiedSince%3D%26find_isIKRecord%3Dtrue%26find_species%3D%26output_format%3Dnormal|access-date=7 September 2013}}</ref> | range_map = Datisca distribution.svg | range_map_caption = The range of ''Datisca'' | synonyms = * ''Cannabina'' <small>Mill.</small> * ''Tricerastes'' <small>C.Presl</small> }}
The '''Datiscaceae''' are a family of dicotyledonous plants, containing two species of the genus '''''Datisca'''''. Two other genera, ''Octomeles'' and ''Tetrameles'', are now classified in the family Tetramelaceae.
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 legumes.
== Species == The genus ''Datisca'' contains two or three species;<ref name="Christenhusz-Byng2016">{{cite journal |author1=Christenhusz, M. J. M. |author2=Byng, J. W. |name-list-style=amp | year = 2016 | title = The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase | journal = Phytotaxa | volume = 261 | pages = 201–217 | url = http://biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/download/phytotaxa.261.3.1/20598 | doi = 10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1 | issue = 3 | doi-access = free |bibcode=2016Phytx.261..201C }}</ref> two from Asia and one from North America.<ref name="jepson" >{{cite book | url = http://bscit.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/display_page?page=541&elib_id=3062&format=jpeg | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121210135545/http://bscit.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/display_page?page=541&elib_id=3062&format=jpeg | url-status = dead | archive-date = December 10, 2012 | pages = 537 | title = A Flora of California: Volume II Capparidaceae to Cornaceae | author = Willis Linn Jepson | year = 1936 }}</ref>
The species ''Datisca cannabina'' is found in Crete and Turkey, and closely related ''Datisca nepalensis'' is found in the Himalayas, 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, with male and female flowers on different plants. It is grown for ornamental foliage and can be used to produce a laxative and a yellow dye.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=110&taxon_id=220003876 | work = Nepal Checklist | title = Datisca cannabina L. | access-date = 2007-12-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=220003876 | work = Flora of Pakistan | title = Datisca cannabina | access-date = 2007-12-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia | url = http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-152267/Datisca-cannabina | title = Datisca cannabina (plant) | encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica online | access-date = 2007-12-16 }}</ref>
The North American species ''Datisca glomerata'' is native to California, Nevada, and Mexico.<ref name="jepson"/><ref>{{cite web | url = https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DAGL2 | work = PLANTS | title = Datisca glomerata (K. Presl) Baill. (Durango root) | access-date = 2007-12-16 }}</ref> This species is more or less dioecious, except that female plants may possess some bisexual flowers, as well.<ref name="jepson"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Angiosperm families}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q867718}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Datiscaceae Category:Cucurbitales genera
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