Bassia

Bassia
Bassia indica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Amaranthaceae
Subfamily:	Camphorosmoideae
Genus:	Bassia All.
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Chenoleioides (Ulbr.) Botsch. Kirilowia Bunge Kochia Roth Londesia Fisch. & C.A. Mey. Panderia Fisch. & C.A. Mey.

Bassia is a plant genus of the Amaranthaceae family.

Description

The species of genus Bassia are annuals or perennial subshrubs. Their leaves are very variable and show different C₄ "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.

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 Allioni, 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:

• 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^[1]
• 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 prostrata (L.) A.J. Scott - Common name: forage kochia^[2]
• Bassia salsoloides (Fenzl) A.J. Scott
• Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott - Common name: burningbush,^[3] 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).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bassia

References

• Gudrun Kadereit & Helmut Freitag: Molecular phylogeny of Camphorosmeae (Camphorosmoideae, Chenopodiaceae): Implications for biogeography, evolution of C4-photosynthesis and taxonomy, In: Taxon, Volume 60 (1), 2011, p. 51-78. (for Description, Distribution & Evolution, Uses, Systematics)

1. ^ USDA PLANTS Profile for Bassia hyssopifolia (Pallas) Kuntz fivehorn smotherweed. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
2. ^ USDA PLANTS Profile for Bassia prostrata (L.) A.J. Scott forage kochia. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
3. ^ USDA PLANTS Profile for Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott burningbush. Retrieved October 19, 2007.