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Useful Tropical Plants

Dendrocnide meyeniana

(Walp.) Chew

Urticaceae

+ Synonyms

Laportea meyeniana (Walp.) Warb.

Laportea pterostigma Wedd.

Laportea subglabra Hayata

Common Name:

Dendrocnide meyeniana
Close-up of the female flowers
Photograph by: LiChieh Pan
Creative Commons License
Dendrocnide meyeniana Dendrocnide meyeniana Dendrocnide meyeniana Dendrocnide meyeniana

General Information

Dendrocnide meyeniana is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing 5 - 7 metres tall[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The plant is gathered from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

The trees, especially when young, have stinging hairs. The sting can be intensely painful and the pain can recur, with reducing intensity, over a period of several weeks[
144
Title
Wild Food in Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
Publisher
Fontana
Year
1976
ISBN
0-00-634436-4
Description
A very good pocket guide.
].
Contact with the leaves causes breaking of the tips of the hairs and a poison is released that causes immediate and intense skin irritation. The stings are painful and may cause the formation of blisters, immediate and possibly progressing to confluence[
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].

Botanical References

993
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 25
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
Botanic Gardens; Singapore
Year
1969
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the genera Dendrocnide and Laportea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

E. Asia - Philippines, Taiwan.

Habitat

Thickets and secondary forest at low and medium altitudes[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Tree
Height6.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Plants in this genus are essentially lowland primary forest species preferring slightly moist and somewhat shady habitats[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
993
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 25
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
Botanic Gardens; Singapore
Year
1969
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the genera Dendrocnide and Laportea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the roots and leaves is taken as a diuretic in case of urine retention[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
A topical dressing of the leaves is said to cure carbuncles[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Extreme care should be taken here, due to the stinging hairs on the leaves[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
The pounded roots or leaves are applied externally to treat scrofula[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

A decoction of the dried or powdered leaves is used to stop bleeding, including nosebleeds[
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].

Other Uses

The wood is very soft[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Propagation

Seed - easy.
Cuttings root easily - simply thrusting a branch into moist ground will usually result in it rooting[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Dendrocnide+meyeniana>

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