Home | > | List of families | > | Urticaceae | > | Girardinia | > | diversifolia |
Synonyms: |
Girardinia condensata (Steud.) Wedd. Girardinia heterophylla (Vahl) Decne. Urtica diversifolia Link |
Common names: | Imbabazane (Ndebele) Jeni (Shona) Murosha (Shona) Stinging nettle (English) Vofa (Shona) Zenya (Shona) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Erect annual or short-lived perennial herb, up to 1.5-2 m tall. Stems sparsely branched, covered with long stinging hairs. Leaves alternate, vary variable in shape and size, from entire to deeply lobed, often on the same plant, more or less broadly ovate in outline, 10-25 long, hairless except for stinging hairs above, pubescent below with stinging hairs on the veins; margin finely to coarsely toothed. Flowers in spike-like axillary clusters, unisexual, normally on the same plant, rarely on different plants by abortion. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | diversifolia: with diverse or vvariable leaves |
Habitat: | In clearings and along margins of evergreen forest, near caves and rocky outcrops, usually in shade. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1710 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in Tropical Africa and northen South Africa. Also in Madagascar, Yemen and from Sri Lanka and India to southern China, Taiwan and Indonesia. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 7 February 2009 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 280. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 28. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 18. Friis, I. (1991). Urticaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(6) Pages 86 - 88. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 82. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 182. |
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