Lechea

Lechea
Lechea mucronata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Cistaceae
Genus: Lechea
Kalm (1753)
Synonyms[1]
  • Gaura Lam. (1792), nom. illeg.
  • Horanthes Raf. (1838)
  • Lechidium Spach (1837)

Lechea (pinweed) is a genus in the family Cistaceae of the order Malvales.[2] The genus contains about 18 species referred to as "pinweeds" primarily in eastern North America. Most are low-growing herbs with narrow leaves and many small flowers that resemble pinheads.[3]

Linnaeus named the genus Lechea for Swedish botanist Johan Leche (1704–1764), who taught in Finland and is regarded as the father of Finnish meteorology and space research, based on his documentation of the northern lights and early measurements of air temperature in collaboration with Anders Celsius.[4]

  1. ^ "Lechea Kalm". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  2. ^ USDA, NRCS. 2014. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 1 December 2014). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
  3. ^ "Key to the pinweeds (Lechea, Cistaceae) of Alabama and adjacent states". Spaulding, D.D. (2013). Phytoneuron 2013-99: 1–15. Published 11 December 2013.ISSN 2153-733X
  4. ^ New York Natural Heritage Program. 2016. Online Conservation Guide for Lechea tenuifolia.[dead link]