Common Name:

General Information

Dendrocnide meyeniana is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing 5 - 7 metres tall[].
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[].
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[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Philippines, Taiwan.

Habitat

Thickets and secondary forest at low and medium altitudes[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants in this genus are essentially lowland primary forest species preferring slightly moist and somewhat shady habitats[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the roots and leaves is taken as a diuretic in case of urine retention[].
A topical dressing of the leaves is said to cure carbuncles[]. Extreme care should be taken here, due to the stinging hairs on the leaves[].
The pounded roots or leaves are applied externally to treat scrofula[].

A decoction of the dried or powdered leaves is used to stop bleeding, including nosebleeds[].

Other Uses

The wood is very soft[].

Propagation

Seed - easy.
Cuttings root easily - simply thrusting a branch into moist ground will usually result in it rooting[].

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