Loasa

Loasa is a genus of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae. The genus contains about 100 species native to Central and South America.^[1][2] of which Loasa vulcanica is perhaps the best known. Species of Loasa are prickly herbs or shrubs that have nettle-like stinging hairs.^[2] Some species of Loasa are grown as ornamental plants and are known as Chile nettle.^[3] 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.^[2]

Loasa
Loasa vulcanica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Cornales
Family:	Loasaceae
Genus:	Loasa Adans.
Species
See text.

Selected Species

^[1][4]

• Loasa acanthifolia Lam.
• Loasa acerifolia Dombey ex A.Juss.
• Loasa argentina Urb. & Gilg
• Loasa arnottiana Gay
• Loasa caespitosa Phil.
• Loasa elongata Hook. & Arn.
• Loasa elongata Hook. & Arn.
• Loasa filicifolia Poepp.
• Loasa floribunda Hook. & Arn.
• Loasa hastata Killip
• Loasa heterophylla Hook. & Arn.
• Loasa humilis F.Phil.
• Loasa illapelina Phil.
• Loasa incurva R.L.Pérez-Mor. & Crespo
• Loasa insons Poepp.
• Loasa mollensis Muñoz-Schick & Trenq.
• Loasa multifida Gay
• Loasa nitida Desr.
• Loasa pallida Gillies ex Arn.
• Loasa paradoxa Urb. & Gilg
• Loasa placei Lindl.
• Loasa prostrata Gillies ex Arn.
• Loasa sclareifolia Juss.
• Loasa sigmoidea Urb. & Gilg
• Loasa tricolor Ker Gawl.
• Loasa triloba Juss.
• Loasa unguiculata Urb. & Gilg
• Loasa vulcanica