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Dendrocnide

Scientific Name: Dendrocnide

Family: Urticaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Dendrocnide: The Stinging Tree

Dendrocnide is a genus of shrubs and trees known for their stinging hairs. This page provides information about the genus and several of its species, including their distribution, characteristics, and other notable features.

Considerations for Pets

  • Several Dendrocnide species, such as Dendrocnide moroides and Dendrocnide excelsa, possess stinging hairs that can cause an intense and persistent sting.
  • The leaves and fruit of trees in the Dendrocnide genus may also have stinging properties.

Considerations for Children

  • Several Dendrocnide species, such as Dendrocnide moroides and Dendrocnide excelsa, possess stinging hairs that can cause an intense and persistent sting.
  • The leaves and fruit of trees in the Dendrocnide genus may also have stinging properties.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

  • Scientific Name: Dendrocnide Miq.
  • Family: Urticaceae (Nettle family)
  • The genus comprises 37 species.
  • Examples of species include:
    • Dendrocnide moroides (Wedd.) Chew
    • Dendrocnide excelsa (Wedd.) Chew
    • Dendrocnide photinophylla
    • Dendrocnide amplissima (Blume) Chew
    • Dendrocnide latifolia (Gaudich.) Chew
    • Dendrocnide elliptica (Merr.) Chew
    • Dendrocnide sinuata (Bl.) Chew
    • Dendrocnide kusaiana
  • Synonyms:
    • Urtica sinuata Bl. (Synonym for Dendrocnide sinuata)
    • Laportea crenulata (Roxb.) Gaud. (Synonym for Dendrocnide sinuata)
    • Laportea elliptica Merr. (Synonym for Dendrocnide elliptica)

Common Names

  • Dendrocnide moroides: stinging brush, gympie stinger, mulberry-leaved stinger, gympie gympie, gympie, stinger, moonlighter, the suicide plant
  • Dendrocnide excelsa: Australian nettle tree, fibrewood, gimpi gimpi, giant stinging tree, gympie
  • Dendrocnide photinophylla: shining-leaved stinging tree

Distribution and Habitat

  • The Dendrocnide genus has a wide distribution across Southeast Asia and Australia.
  • Dendrocnide moroides is found in forests in Queensland (Australia) and Indonesia.
  • Dendrocnide excelsa is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia.
  • Dendrocnide photinophylla is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia, occurring from near the Colo River northwest of Sydney.
  • Dendrocnide cordifolia occurs on the Atherton Tablelands.
  • Dendrocnide kusaiana is found only on Pohnpei and Kosrae.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Dendrocnide species range from shrubs to large trees.
  • Dendrocnide excelsa can grow up to 40 meters tall and has fluted trunks.
  • The leaves and fruit of trees in the genus may have stinging hairs.
  • Dendrocnide cordifolia is similar to other species, but its leaves are not peltate.

Ecological Role

  • Dendrocnide moroides is considered the deadliest and most potent stinging nettle in the world.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The stinging hairs of Dendrocnide species are known to cause an intense and persistent sting.