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Useful Tropical Plants

Urera glabra

(Hook. & Arn.) Wedd.

Urticaceae

+ Synonyms

Procris glabra Hook. & Arn.

Urera konaensis H.St.John

Urera sandwicensis Wedd.

Common Name:

Urera glabra
Cultivated plant in Hawaii
Photograph by: David Eickhoff
Creative Commons License
Urera glabra Urera glabra Urera glabra Urera glabra

General Information

Urera glabra is a shrub or a small tree with rather long, thick, drooping branches; it usually grows 2 - 8 metres tall but occasionally to 10.5 metres. The straight bole can be up to 30cm in diameter and is clothed in a smooth, very fibrous bark[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
,
509
Title
The Indiginous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands
Publication
 
Author
Rock J.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1913
ISBN
 
Description
A guide to the trees and forests of Hawaii. Rather dated, but a good work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The plant is nearly always a tree when growing on the main island of Hawaii, but is usually only a shrub on the other islands[
509
Title
The Indiginous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands
Publication
 
Author
Rock J.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1913
ISBN
 
Description
A guide to the trees and forests of Hawaii. Rather dated, but a good work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of fibre.

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, most, if not all, members of this genus have strongly stinging hairs[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Botanical References


Range

Pacific - Hawaii.

Habitat

Mesic to wet forests and diverse mesic forests, on slopes and the bottoms of gulches, at elevations from 150 - 1,700 metres[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitTree
Height6.00 m
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

It is not a very dry district plant, but favors regions with more frequent and heavier precipitation[
509
Title
The Indiginous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands
Publication
 
Author
Rock J.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1913
ISBN
 
Description
A guide to the trees and forests of Hawaii. Rather dated, but a good work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
509
Title
The Indiginous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands
Publication
 
Author
Rock J.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1913
ISBN
 
Description
A guide to the trees and forests of Hawaii. Rather dated, but a good work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

For the treatment of constipation; the flowers, leaf buds, and tap root, combined with maaloa (Neraudia spp.), are mixed with the leaves and leaf buds of Chamaesyce spp., and white sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). These are pounded into a liquid and then strained with Cyperus javanicus, and mixed with pia (Tacca leontopetaloides) and stirred. The liquid medicine is drunk and followed by broiled sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
].

Other Uses

The fibres obtained from the inner bark are used for making cordage, nets etc, and also occasionally for making tapa cloth[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
,
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
509
Title
The Indiginous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands
Publication
 
Author
Rock J.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1913
ISBN
 
Description
A guide to the trees and forests of Hawaii. Rather dated, but a good work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The wood is soft and light[
509
Title
The Indiginous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands
Publication
 
Author
Rock J.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1913
ISBN
 
Description
A guide to the trees and forests of Hawaii. Rather dated, but a good work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Urera+glabra>

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