Boehmeria macrophylla Hornem., Urticaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Boehmeria platyphylla Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: shui zhu ma

English: African jola-nettle, false nettle

French: bois de source noir, grande ortie, moyen l'ortie, ortie rouge

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Monoecious or dioecious subshrub, 1-3 m. Leaves membranous, ovate to elliptic or suborbicular, 7-25 x 4-15 cm, acuminate, sometimes cuspidate, base rounded, sometimes subcuneate or cordate, margins serrate or dentate with teeth 2-3 mm broad and deep, of uniform size throughout, minor veins inconspicuous, arching upwards; subglabrous, pubescent, strigose or tomentose, smooth or rugose; petioles slender, 3-10 cm; stipules lanceolate, up to 1 cm, deciduous or subpersistent. Male spikes 7-10 cm, paniculately branched at base. Female spikes usually simple, solitary, 10-15 or up to 30 cm, slender or stout, sometimes pendulous; flower clusters 3-5 mm diameter. Achenes ellipsoid, 0.7 mm, bearing hooked style" (Grierson & Long, 1983; p. 126).

Habitat/ecology:  "Woodland, Cultivated Beds, Dappled Shade. The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil." (Plants For A Future)

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Bhutan, China, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (GRIN)

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Forests, forest margins, thickets, along streams, roadsides; 100-3000 m".
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 65)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	Cronk, Q. C. B./Fuller, J. L. (2001)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	MacDonald, I. A. W./Thebaud, C./Strahm, W. A./Strasberg, D. (1991) (pp. 51-61)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Envahissant"
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Kueffer, C./Lavergne, C. (2004) (p. 5)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Baret, Stephane/Rouget, Mathieu/Richardson, David M./Lavergne, Christophe/Egoh, Benis/Dupont, Joel/Strasberg, Dominique (2006) (p. 758)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	Lorence, David (year unknown)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013) envahissant principalement dans les milieux perturbés

Control:  If you know of control methods for Boehmeria macrophylla, please let us know.