Home | > | List of families | > | Urticaceae | > | Laportea | > | peduncularis |
Synonyms: |
Fleurya capensis var. mitis Wedd. Fleurya mitis Wedd. Fleurya peduncularis Wedd. |
Common names: | River nettle (English) Stinging nettle (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Annual erect or ascending herb with scrambling or almost prostrate stems and erect branches, up to c. 1 m tall. All part with numerous stinging hairs. Leaves ovate, up to c. 10 × 7 cm, with short stiff hairs above and on the veins below, acuminate at the apex; margin serrate with up to 25 teeth each side. Petiole 4-6 cm long. Flowers in sparsely branched panicles in the upper leaf axils, unisexual, usually on the same plant. Male clusters c. 1 cm in diameter, in the lower axils; female clusters c. 6 mm in diameter on short, winged pedicels. |
Notes: | Distinguished from the similar L. alatipes by the broader, more ovate leaves with fewer teeth and 5-merous male flowers. |
Derivation of specific name: | peduncularis: stalked. |
Habitat: | In the understorey of montane evergreen forest, often along paths and rivers. |
Altitude range: | 1100 - 1800 m |
Flowering time: | Almost all year |
Worldwide distribution: | From Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, South Africa. |
Mozambique distribution: | MS,GI |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Hypolimnas deceptor deceptor (Larval food plant) Hypolimnas anthedon wahlbergi (Larval food plant) Acraea burni (Larval foodplant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Monday 31 May 2010 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 36. Friis, I. (1991). Urticaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(6) Pages 90 - 94. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 82. |
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