Boerhavia

Boerhavia
	Boerhavia diffusa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Nyctaginaceae
Tribe:	Nyctagineae
Genus:	Boerhavia; L.
Species
	See text

Boerhaavia is a genus of over 100 species in the four o'clock flower family, Nyctaginaceae.^[1] Some species are annuals and others perennials. In habit they generally are herbaceous.

Common names include spiderlings and hogweeds. "Spiderling" refers to the appearance of those species that bear inflorescences on numerous long, slender stems, interlocking in a manner suggestive of a spider or spider's web.

The genus was named for Herman Boerhaave, a Dutch botanist, and the genus name is frequently misspelled "Boerhaavia".

Boerhavia species generally are native to warm tropical regions.

Selected species

Boerhavia anisophylla Torr. – wineflower
Boerhavia boissieri
Boerhavia coccinea P.Mill. – scarlet spiderling
Boerhavia coulteri (Hook.f.) S.Wats. - Coulter spiderling, Coulter's spiderling
Boerhavia diffusa L. – red spiderling
Boerhavia dominii Meikle & Hewson – tah-vine
Boerhavia elegans
Boerhavia erecta L. – erect spiderling
Boerhavia gracillima Heimerl – slim-stalk spiderling, slimstalk spiderling
Boerhavia herbstii Fosberg – alena
Boerhavia intermedia M.E.Jones – five-wing spiderling, fivewing spiderling
Boerhavia linearifolia Gray – narrowleaf spiderling
Boerhavia mathisiana F.B.Jones – Mathis' spiderling
Boerhavia megaptera Standl. – annual spiderling, Tucson Mountain spiderling
Boerhavia pterocarpa S.Wats. – Apache Pass spiderling
Boerhavia purpurascens Gray – purple spiderling
Boerhavia repens L.
Boerhavia scandens L. – climbing spiderling, climbing wartclub, wishbone vine
Boerhavia spicata Choisy – creeping spiderling
Boerhavia triquetra S.Wats. – slender spiderling
Boerhavia wrightii Gray – Wright's boerhavia

Agricultural and horticultural significance

Several species of Boerhavia are of importance as agricultural and horticultural weeds. Some are valued as forage for grazing livestock, and some, such as Boerhavia erecta, also are of use as human food and folk medicine.