Bassia
Encyclopedia
Bassia is a plant genus of the Amaranthaceae
family.
"kochioid" types of leaf anatomy. The flowers are normally inconspicuous, in spike-like inflorescences without bracteoles. Fruits are achenes (small, dry, single-seeded fruits). The seed contains an annular, horseshoe-shaped or folded embryo that surrounds the perisperm. The fruiting perianth remains either unappendaged or develops 5 wings (in Bassia hyssopifolia with uncinate spines).
The species grow in dry steppes and semideserts, some in ruderal sites, some in saltmarshes, from the lowlands up to subalpine altitudes. Phylogenetical research revealed, that the genus evolved in the Miocene
.
, with the type species Bassia muricata L. (under the name B. aegyptiaca). The genus belongs to the subfamily Camphorosmoideae
of the family Amaranthaceae
(formerly grouped to Chenopodiaceae) and consists of about 20 species:
Several other species formerly classified in Bassia are now treated as separate genera (see subfamily Camphorosmoideae
).
Amaranthaceae
The flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family, contains about 176 genera and 2,400 species.- Description :Most of these species are herbs or subshrubs; very few are trees or climbers. Some species are succulent....
family.
Description
The species of genus Bassia are annuals or perennial subshrubs. Their leaves are very variable and show different C4C4 carbon fixation
C4 carbon fixation is one of three biochemical mechanisms, along with and CAM photosynthesis, used in carbon fixation. It is named for the 4-carbon molecule present in the first product of carbon fixation in these plants, in contrast to the 3-carbon molecule products in plants. fixation is an...
"kochioid" types of leaf anatomy. The flowers are normally inconspicuous, in spike-like inflorescences without bracteoles. Fruits are achenes (small, dry, single-seeded fruits). The seed contains an annular, horseshoe-shaped or folded embryo that surrounds the perisperm. The fruiting perianth remains either unappendaged or develops 5 wings (in Bassia hyssopifolia with uncinate spines).
Distribution and Evolution
The genus Bassia is distributed from the western Mediterranean to East Asia. Some annual species have been introduced to other continents (North America, South India).The species grow in dry steppes and semideserts, some in ruderal sites, some in saltmarshes, from the lowlands up to subalpine altitudes. Phylogenetical research revealed, that the genus evolved in the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
.
Uses
Some palatable species of Bassia with high protein content are valuable components of rangelands, sometimes seeded for the melioration of overgrazed rangelands.Systematics
The genus name Bassia was first published in 1766 by Carlo AllioniCarlo Allioni
Carlo Allioni was an Italian physician and professor of botany at the University of Turin. His most important work was Flora Pedemontana, sive enumeratio methodica stirpium indigenarum Pedemontii 1755, a study of the plant world in Piedmont, in which he listed 2813 species of plants, of which 237...
, with the type species Bassia muricata L. (under the name B. aegyptiaca). The genus belongs to the subfamily Camphorosmoideae
Camphorosmoideae
The Camphorosmoideae is a species-rich subfamily of the Amaranthaceae, formerly in family Chenopodiaceae.- Description :The members of Camphorosmoideae are mostly subshrubs or annuals. They differ from the similar Salsoloideae by the absence of bracteoles. Stigmas are filiform with papillae on the...
of the family Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae
The flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family, contains about 176 genera and 2,400 species.- Description :Most of these species are herbs or subshrubs; very few are trees or climbers. Some species are succulent....
(formerly grouped to Chenopodiaceae) and consists of about 20 species:
- Bassia aegyptiaca Turki. et al., classification questionable
- Bassia angustifolia (Turcz.) Freitag & G. Kadereit.
- Bassia arabica (Boiss.) Maire & Weiller.
- Bassia dinteri (Botsch.) A.J. Scott
- Bassia eriophora (Schrad.) Asch.
- Bassia hyssopifolia (Pall.) Kuntze - Common name: fivehorn smotherweed
- Bassia indica (Wight) A.J. Scott
- Bassia laniflora (S.G. Gmel.) A.J. Scott
- Bassia lasiantha Freitag & G. Kadereit
- Bassia littorea (Makino) Freitag & G. Kadereit
- Bassia muricata (L.) Asch.
- Bassia odontoptera (Schrenk) Freitag & G. Kadereit
- Bassia pilosa (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Freitag & G. Kadereit
- Bassia prostrataBassia prostrataBassia prostrata is a Eurasian plant in the subfamily Camphorosmoideae of the family Amaranthaceae , introduced to the United States as rangeland forage and for fire control.-External links:**House, Dawn. 2007. Salt Lake Tribune, August 2....
(L.) A.J. Scott - Common name: forage kochia - Bassia salsoloides (Fenzl) A.J. Scott
- Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott - Common name: burningbush, ragweed, summer cypress, fireball, Mexican fireweed, goldcrest kochia
- Bassia stellaris (Moq.) Bornm.
- Bassia tianschanica (Pavlov) Freitag & G. Kadereit
- Bassia tomentosa (Lowe) Maire & Weiller
- Bassia villosissima (Bong. & C.A. Mey.) Freitag & G. Kadereit
Several other species formerly classified in Bassia are now treated as separate genera (see subfamily Camphorosmoideae
Camphorosmoideae
The Camphorosmoideae is a species-rich subfamily of the Amaranthaceae, formerly in family Chenopodiaceae.- Description :The members of Camphorosmoideae are mostly subshrubs or annuals. They differ from the similar Salsoloideae by the absence of bracteoles. Stigmas are filiform with papillae on the...
).