99 Species of Genus Nasa

Nasa: A Plant Genus with a Stellar Name

As a plant enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the sheer diversity of the botanical world. From towering redwoods to delicate orchids, the plant kingdom never ceases to amaze me. But recently, I stumbled upon a genus that piqued my interest not just for its unique characteristics, but also for its rather unexpected name: Nasa.

Yes, you read that right. NASA, like the space agency.

Now, before you conjure up images of extraterrestrial flora or moon rocks sprouting leaves, let me clarify. Nasa is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Loasaceae family. These plants are primarily found in the mountainous regions of South America, with a couple of species venturing into Central America. They’re known for their often hairy or bristly leaves and their vibrant flowers, which come in a variety of colors including yellow, orange, red, and white.

What truly captivated me about this genus, however, was the story behind its name. It’s not named after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as one might initially assume. Instead, “Nasa” is derived from a Quechua word meaning “nose,” likely referring to the protruding shape of the fruit in some species.

Imagine my excitement when I delved deeper into this genus and discovered the sheer number of species it encompasses. There are 99 recognized species of Nasa, each with its own unique features and adaptations. To give you a glimpse into this diverse group, here’s a list of 99 Nasa species:

Species of the Nasa Genus

  1. Nasa aequatoriana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  2. Nasa amaluzensis (Weigend) Weigend
  3. Nasa anderssonii Weigend
  4. Nasa angeldiazioides T.Henning, R.H.Acuña, E.Rodr., García-Llatas & Weigend
  5. Nasa argemonoides (Juss.) Weigend
  6. Nasa aspiazui (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
  7. Nasa asplundii Weigend
  8. Nasa auca (Weigend) Weigend
  9. Nasa basilica T.Henning & Weigend
  10. Nasa bicornuta (Weigend) Weigend
  11. Nasa callacallensis Weigend & E.Rodr.
  12. Nasa campaniflora (Triana & Planch. ex Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  13. Nasa carnea (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  14. Nasa carunculata (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  15. Nasa chenopodiifolia (Desr.) Weigend
  16. Nasa colanii Dostert & Weigend
  17. Nasa connectans Weigend
  18. Nasa contumazensis Weigend & E.Rodr.
  19. Nasa cuatrecasasii Weigend
  20. Nasa dillonii Weigend
  21. Nasa dolichostemon (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  22. Nasa driessleae Weigend
  23. Nasa dyeri (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  24. Nasa ferox Weigend
  25. Nasa ferruginea (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  26. Nasa formosissima Weigend
  27. Nasa glabra (Weigend) Weigend
  28. Nasa glandulosissima Weigend
  29. Nasa grandiflora (Desr.) Weigend
  30. Nasa hastata (Killip) Weigend, T.Henning & R.H.Acuña
  31. Nasa herzogii (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  32. Nasa hornii (Weigend) Weigend
  33. Nasa humboldtiana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  34. Nasa insignis Weigend & E.Rodr.
  35. Nasa jungiifolia (Weigend) Weigend
  36. Nasa karsteniana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  37. Nasa kuelapensis Weigend
  38. Nasa lambayequensis Weigend
  39. Nasa laxa (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
  40. Nasa lehmanniana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  41. Nasa lenta (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
  42. Nasa limata (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
  43. Nasa lindeniana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  44. Nasa longivalvis E.Rodr. & Weigend
  45. Nasa loxensis (Kunth) Weigend
  46. Nasa macrophylla (Urb. & Gilg) ined.
  47. Nasa macrothyrsa (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  48. Nasa modesta Weigend
  49. Nasa moroensis Weigend
  50. Nasa nubicolorum Weigend
  51. Nasa olmosiana (Gilg ex J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
  52. Nasa orbicularis Weigend
  53. Nasa otuzcensis Weigend & E.Rodr.
  54. Nasa panamensis Weigend
  55. Nasa pascoensis Weigend
  56. Nasa peltata (Spruce ex Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  57. Nasa peltiphylla (Weigend) Weigend
  58. Nasa perijensis (Weigend) Weigend
  59. Nasa picta (Hook.) Molinari
  60. Nasa pilovena Weigend
  61. Nasa poissoniana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  62. Nasa pongalamesa Weigend
  63. Nasa profundilobata (Werderm.) Weigend
  64. Nasa profundiserrata Weigend
  65. Nasa pteridophylla Weigend & Dostert
  66. Nasa puma-chini (Weigend) Weigend
  67. Nasa puracensis (Killip) Weigend
  68. Nasa raimondii (Standl. & F.A.Barkley) Weigend
  69. Nasa ramirezii (Weigend) Weigend
  70. Nasa ranunculifolia (Kunth) Weigend
  71. Nasa rubrastra (Weigend) Weigend
  72. Nasa rudis (Benth.) R.H.Acuña & Weigend
  73. Nasa rufipila Weigend
  74. Nasa rugosa (Killip) Weigend
  75. Nasa sagasteguii Weigend
  76. Nasa sanagoranensis T.Henning, Weigend & A.Cano
  77. Nasa sanchezii T.Henning & Weigend
  78. Nasa santa-martae (Weigend) Weigend
  79. Nasa schlimiana (Planch. & Linden) Weigend
  80. Nasa solaria (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
  81. Nasa solata (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
  82. Nasa speciosa (Donn.Sm.) Weigend
  83. Nasa stolonifera Weigend
  84. Nasa stuebeliana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  85. Nasa tabularis Weigend
  86. Nasa tingomariensis (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
  87. Nasa trianae (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  88. Nasa triphylla (Juss.) Weigend
  89. Nasa tulipadiaboli T.Henning & Weigend
  90. Nasa umbraculifera E.Rodr. & Weigend
  91. Nasa urens (Jacq.) Weigend
  92. Nasa urentivelutina Weigend
  93. Nasa urubambensis T.Henning & Weigend
  94. Nasa usquiliensis Weigend, T.Henning & C.Schneid.
  95. Nasa vargasii (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
  96. Nasa venezuelensis (Steyerm.) Weigend
  97. Nasa victorii Weigend
  98. Nasa weberbaueri (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
  99. Nasa weigendii E.Rodr.

This list, while extensive, only scratches the surface of the diversity within the Nasa genus. Many species remain poorly understood, and new ones are still being discovered.

As I continue to explore the world of Nasa, I’m struck by the sense of wonder and curiosity it evokes. It’s a reminder that even in the most familiar of names, there lies a world of hidden beauty and complexity waiting to be uncovered. Who knows what other surprises the plant kingdom holds? I, for one, am eager to find out.

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