- Dendrocnide peltata
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Dendrocnide peltata Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Urticaceae Genus: Dendrocnide Species: D. peltata Binomial name Dendrocnide peltata
(Blume) Miq.Synonyms - Urtica peltata Blume
- Laportea murrayana Rendle
- Dendrocnide peltata subsp. murrayana (Rendle) Chew
Dendrocnide peltata, commonly known simply as the Stinging Tree or Jelaton, is a large tree in the nettle family Urticaceae. With the other species of the genus Dendrocnide it is known for the stinging hairs which cover the whole plant and cause severe pain when touched. The specific epithet comes from the Latin pelta (a shield), referring to the peltate leaves.[1]
Contents
Description
Dendrocnide peltata is a dioecious rainforest tree. Although often encountered as a small, sub-canopy tree, it may grow to be a large canopy tree up to 30 m high. The trunk grows to a diameter of 650 mm, and is usually crooked and lacking buttresses, while the bark is green or grey in colour, and rough, scaly or flaky in texture. The large leaves, which are broadly ovate, usually peltate, rounded at the base, crenate, acute to acuminate, dark green above and pale green beneath, are clustered at the ends of the branches. The small flowers grow as axillary inflorescences. The fruits are about 20 mm long, green or brown, with the seeds about 2 mm in diameter.[2][1]
Distribution and habitat
There are two botanic varieties of the tree:
- Dendrocnide peltata (Blume) Miq. var. peltata is native to Java, Bali, New Guinea and Christmas Island.
- Dendrocnide peltata var. murrayana (Rendle) Chew is endemic to Christmas Island.
References
Notes
Sources
- Conn, Barry; & Damas, Kipiro. "Dendrocnide peltata (Bl.) Miq.". PNGTreesKey. National Herbaria of New South Wales and Papua New Guinea. http://www.pngplants.org/PNGtrees/TreeDescriptions/Dendrocnide_peltata_Bl_Miq.html. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
- "Dendrocnide peltata (Blume) Miq.". Flora of Australia Online. Australian Biological Resources Study. 1993. http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/online-resources/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=6616. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
Categories:- Urticaceae
- Rosales of Australia
- Flora of Christmas Island
- Flora of Indonesia
- Flora of New Guinea
- Rosales stubs
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