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
- Nasa aequatoriana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa amaluzensis (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa anderssonii Weigend
- Nasa angeldiazioides T.Henning, R.H.Acuña, E.Rodr., GarcÃa-Llatas & Weigend
- Nasa argemonoides (Juss.) Weigend
- Nasa aspiazui (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
- Nasa asplundii Weigend
- Nasa auca (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa basilica T.Henning & Weigend
- Nasa bicornuta (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa callacallensis Weigend & E.Rodr.
- Nasa campaniflora (Triana & Planch. ex Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa carnea (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa carunculata (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa chenopodiifolia (Desr.) Weigend
- Nasa colanii Dostert & Weigend
- Nasa connectans Weigend
- Nasa contumazensis Weigend & E.Rodr.
- Nasa cuatrecasasii Weigend
- Nasa dillonii Weigend
- Nasa dolichostemon (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa driessleae Weigend
- Nasa dyeri (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa ferox Weigend
- Nasa ferruginea (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa formosissima Weigend
- Nasa glabra (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa glandulosissima Weigend
- Nasa grandiflora (Desr.) Weigend
- Nasa hastata (Killip) Weigend, T.Henning & R.H.Acuña
- Nasa herzogii (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa hornii (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa humboldtiana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa insignis Weigend & E.Rodr.
- Nasa jungiifolia (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa karsteniana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa kuelapensis Weigend
- Nasa lambayequensis Weigend
- Nasa laxa (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
- Nasa lehmanniana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa lenta (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
- Nasa limata (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
- Nasa lindeniana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa longivalvis E.Rodr. & Weigend
- Nasa loxensis (Kunth) Weigend
- Nasa macrophylla (Urb. & Gilg) ined.
- Nasa macrothyrsa (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa modesta Weigend
- Nasa moroensis Weigend
- Nasa nubicolorum Weigend
- Nasa olmosiana (Gilg ex J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
- Nasa orbicularis Weigend
- Nasa otuzcensis Weigend & E.Rodr.
- Nasa panamensis Weigend
- Nasa pascoensis Weigend
- Nasa peltata (Spruce ex Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa peltiphylla (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa perijensis (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa picta (Hook.) Molinari
- Nasa pilovena Weigend
- Nasa poissoniana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa pongalamesa Weigend
- Nasa profundilobata (Werderm.) Weigend
- Nasa profundiserrata Weigend
- Nasa pteridophylla Weigend & Dostert
- Nasa puma-chini (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa puracensis (Killip) Weigend
- Nasa raimondii (Standl. & F.A.Barkley) Weigend
- Nasa ramirezii (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa ranunculifolia (Kunth) Weigend
- Nasa rubrastra (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa rudis (Benth.) R.H.Acuña & Weigend
- Nasa rufipila Weigend
- Nasa rugosa (Killip) Weigend
- Nasa sagasteguii Weigend
- Nasa sanagoranensis T.Henning, Weigend & A.Cano
- Nasa sanchezii T.Henning & Weigend
- Nasa santa-martae (Weigend) Weigend
- Nasa schlimiana (Planch. & Linden) Weigend
- Nasa solaria (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
- Nasa solata (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
- Nasa speciosa (Donn.Sm.) Weigend
- Nasa stolonifera Weigend
- Nasa stuebeliana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa tabularis Weigend
- Nasa tingomariensis (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
- Nasa trianae (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- Nasa triphylla (Juss.) Weigend
- Nasa tulipadiaboli T.Henning & Weigend
- Nasa umbraculifera E.Rodr. & Weigend
- Nasa urens (Jacq.) Weigend
- Nasa urentivelutina Weigend
- Nasa urubambensis T.Henning & Weigend
- Nasa usquiliensis Weigend, T.Henning & C.Schneid.
- Nasa vargasii (J.F.Macbr.) Weigend
- Nasa venezuelensis (Steyerm.) Weigend
- Nasa victorii Weigend
- Nasa weberbaueri (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend
- 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.