The genus is native to South America, Central America, and Mexico, with several species found as far north as Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.[8] The genus primary grows in semi-dry mountainous terrains but can also grow in other habitats such as grasslands, scrublands, forested mountain slopes, conifer forests, and subalpine vegetation.[9]
Uses
Human use of the sweet species S. rebaudiana originated in South America.[10] The species Stevia rebaudiana is widely grown for the sweet compounds (steviol glycosides) extracted from its leaves, sold as a sugar substitute under the generic name stevia and several trade names.[11]
^"Stevia". Merriam-webster.com. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
^"Stevia". British & World English. Oxforddictionaries.com. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
^"Stevia". US English. Oxforddictionaries.com. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
^Both /ˈstiːviə/ and /ˈstɛviə/ are recorded by at least some US and UK dictionaries, but the former is more common in US English (listed first or exclusively) and the latter is more common in UK English.
^Parsons, WT; Cuthbertson, EG (2001). Noxious Weeds of Australia, 2nd ed. Collingswood, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 309. ISBN978-0-643-06514-7..This reference refers specifically to Stevia eupatoria, a related weed having the same nomenclature origin.
