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Hawai'i false nettle
Scientific Name: Boehmeria grandis
Family: Urticaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Subshrub, Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Hawai'i False Nettle (Boehmeria grandis)
The Hawai'i False Nettle, scientifically known as Boehmeria grandis, is a plant found in Hawai'i. It is often referred to as 'akolea in Hawaiian.
Considerations for Pets
- Belongs to the nettle family, and while the provided text mentions that this native Hawaiian nettle lacks the toxins of some other nettles, it's still prudent to monitor pets around any plant with "nettle" in the name.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Boehmeria grandis (Hook. & Arn.) A. Heller
- Family: Urticaceae (Nettle family)
- Synonyms:
- Boehmeria grandis var. cuneata Skottsb.
- Boehmeria grandis var. kauaiensis Skottsb.
Common Names
- Hawai'i False Nettle
- False Nettle
- 'Akolea (Hawaiian)
Distribution and Habitat
- Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.
- Specifically found on Kaua`i, O`ahu, Moloka`i, Lana`i, Maui, and Hawai`i (Big Island).
- Observed in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
Morphological Characteristics
- Growth Habit: Subshrub to Shrub
- Duration: Perennial (lives for more than two years)
- Leaves: Described as large, oval, and finely toothed ("grandes feuilles ovales finement dentes").
Ecological Role
- The plant can be used as a food source for Red Admiral butterflies.