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Useful Tropical Plants

Urera kaalae

Wawra

Urticaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

Urera kaalae
Flowering stem
Photograph by: David Eickhoff
Creative Commons License

General Information

Urera kaalae is a shrub or small tree growing 2 - 8 metres tall[
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.
].
The plant used to be harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre.
There are olny nine remaining subpopulations of this species, comprising approximately 40 individuals, that are known to exist. Damage and habitat degradation, caused by feral pigs and introduced plants, are the greatest threats to its continued existence. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

The plant has stinging hairs.

Botanical References


Range

Pacific - Hawaii.

Habitat

A rare plant in mesic forests, growing in gulches and on slopes, at elevations from 300 - 760 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

Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitShrub
Height5.00 m
Growth RateFast
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



A fast-growing shrub or tree[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Presumably a dioecious species, in which case both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The fibre obtained from the inner bark is used for cordage to make nets and, 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.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-01. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Urera+kaalae>

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