The name of this species is spelled Dendrocnide moroidea in some publications[].

Common Name:

General Information

Dendrocnide moroides is an evergreen shrub or a tree, usually growing up to 5 metres tall but sometimes reaching 10 metres[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

The plant has intensely stinging hairs on the leaves, young branches and fruits. This is reported to be the most painful of all stinging trees[]. The stinging hairs break off when touched and inject a poison into the skin. Immediate burning sensation and itching will follow, including reddening and blistering. The burning can last for weeks. If the stinging hairs are not removed with wax shortly after the contact, the pain can recur for months[].
People can suffer even if they don't touch the plant. These trees continuously shed their stinging hairs. Staying close to a stinging tree for more than an hour can cause painful and continuous bouts of sneezing[].

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia (Moluccas) and eastern Australia.

Habitat

Moist places in rainforests, also along the sides of tracks in disturbed areas (particularly where the soil has been disturbed by tractors during logging); usually at low elevations[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants in this genus are essentially lowland primary forest species preferring slightly moist and somewhat shady habitats[].
Plants usually commence flowering and fruiting when around 1 - 3 metres tall[].
Unlike other members of this genus, this species is not dioecious - both male and female flowers are produced on the same plant[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. Juicy[]. The infructescence is up to 15 cm long, consisting of a number of more or less globular heads arranged in panicles. The nuts or achenes resemble small seeds and are surrounded by the fleshy, watery, swollen receptacles or pedicels[].
Extreme care should be exercised if you decide to eat this fruit, due to the severity of the sting this plant can give[]. The following notes, from Dendrocnide photiniphylla, might also apply here - The fruits usually have at least some stinging hairs on them - these need to be removed before eating the fruit[]. This can be done quite easily by tossing a number of fruits together in a bag, thus abrading the hairs[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is very soft[].

Propagation

Seed - easy[].
Cuttings root easily - just thrusting a branch into moist ground will usually produce a new plant[].

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