Lapsana
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218707142
2008-06-11T20:38:47Z
Rickjpelleg
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/* Categories */ Added Monotypic plant genera
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Lapsana communis''
| image = nipplewort.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = '''''Lapsana'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| species = '''''L. communis'''''
| binomial = ''Lapsana communis''
| binomial_authority = L.
}}
'''''Lapsana''''' is a genus of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Asteraceae]], containing a single species, '''''Lapsana communis''''' ('''Nipplewort'''). It is native to [[Europe]] and northern [[Asia]].
It is an [[annual plant|annual]] or [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous]] plant growing to 1-1.2 m tall, with hairy stems and clear (not milky) sap. The [[leaf|leaves]] are spirally arranged; larger leaves at the base of the flowering stem are often pinnate, with a large oval terminal leaflet and one to four small side leaflets, while smaller leaves higher on the stem are simple oval; all leaves have a toothed margin. The [[flower]]s are yellow, produced in a [[head (botany)|capitulum]] 1-2 cm diameter, the capitula being numerous in loose clusters at the top of the stem.<ref name=fnwe>Flora of Northwestern Europe: [http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=3888 ''Lapsana communis'']</ref><ref name=blamey>Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. ISBN 0-340-40170-2</ref>
There are six [[subspecies]]:<ref name=fe>Flora Europaea: [ ''Lapsana communis'']</ref><ref name=grin>Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?21475 ''Lapsana communis'']</ref><ref name=fnwe/>
*''Lapsana communis'' subsp. ''communis''. Most of Europe, except the southeast. Annual.
*''Lapsana communis'' subsp. ''adenophora'' (Boiss.) Rech.f. Southeast Europe.
*''Lapsana communis'' subsp. ''alpina'' (Boiss. & Balansa) P.D.Sell. Crimea.
*''Lapsana communis'' subsp. ''grandiflora'' (M. Bieb.) P.D.Sell. Southwest Asia.
*''Lapsana communis'' subsp. ''intermedia'' (M. Bieb.) Hayek. Southwest Asia, southeast Europe. Perennial.
*''Lapsana communis'' subsp. ''pisidica'' (Boiss. & Heldr.) Rech.f. Greece.
In the past, a number of other species were included in the genus; these species are now treated in the genera ''[[Crepis]]'' and ''[[Lapsanastrum]]''.<ref name=pak>Pak, J.-H. & Bremer, K. (1995). Phylogeny and reclassification of the genus ''Lapsana'' (Asteraceae: Lactuceae). ''Taxon'' 44: 13–21. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0040-0262(199502)44:1%3C13:PAROTG%3E2.0.CO;2-S Abstract]</ref><ref name=rhs>Huxley, A, ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.</ref>
===Cultivation and uses===
The young leaves are edible, and can be used in salads or cooked like [[spinach]].<ref name=pfaf>Plants for a Future: [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Lapsana+communis ''Lapsana communis''].</ref> The scientific name comes from ''Lapsane'', an edible herb described by [[Marcus Terentius Varro]] of ancient [[Rome]]. The English name 'Nipplewort' derives from its closed flower buds, which resemble nipples. Because of its resemblance to nipples, under the [[doctrine of signatures]] it was once used as treatment for breast ulcers.<ref>[[John Parkinson (botanist)|Parkinson, J.]] (1640). ''Theatrum Botanicum; or an Herball of Large Extent''.</ref>
Away from its native area, ''Lapsana communis'' is [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]], and sometimes considered an [[invasive species]], in many areas around the world, including [[Australia]], [[Chile]], [[New Zealand]], and most of [[North America]].<ref name=fnsw>Flora of New South Wales: [http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Lapsana~communis ''Lapsana communis''].</ref><ref name=fc>Flora of Chile: [http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/FloraData/060/PDF/V04/Volume5-Lapsana.pdf ''Lapsana communis''].</ref><ref name=fnz>Flora of New Zealand: [http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Taxon.aspx?id=_53bb02f9-3782-4aec-b86f-8468d32b7562&fileName=flora%204.xml ''Lapsana communis''].</ref><ref name=fna>Flora of North America: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220007293 ''Lapsana communis''].</ref>
==References==
{{Commons|Lapsana communis}}
<References/>
[[Category:Asteraceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Monotypic plant genera]]
[[da:Almindelig Haremad]]
[[de:Gemeiner Rainkohl]]
[[es:Lapsana]]
[[fr:Lampsane commune]]
[[it:Lapsana]]
[[lt:Paprastoji gaiva]]
[[nl:Akkerkool]]
[[pl:Łoczyga pospolita]]