Dendrocnide

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Dendrocnide
Dendrocnide stimulans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Tribe: Urticeae
Genus: Dendrocnide
Miq.[1]
Type species
Dendrocnide costata
Miq.
Species

See text

Dendrocnide is a genus of approximately 40 species[a] of plants in the nettle family Urticaceae. They have a wide distribution across North East India, Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. In Australia they are commonly known as stinging trees.[2][1]

Description

Plants in this genus are evergreen shrubs or small trees, with the exception of the aptly-named giant stinging tree (D. excelsa) which may reach 35 m (115 ft) in height.[3] Dendrocnide species have a sympodial growth habit and are armed with fine needle-like stinging hairs. They are generally fast-growing and produce soft wood, and are usually found in areas of disturbed forest where they fill the role of a pioneer species.[1][4][5][6]

The leaves are simple, alternate, and petiolate, (i.e. having long petioles or leaf-stems), and the leaf blade may be either entire or have some form of dentate toothing (notches or teeth on the edges of the leaf). The leaves are also often large, and may be either leathery or papery. The stipules are fused and deciduous, leaving conspicuous scars on the twigs after falling.[1][4][5]

The inflorescences are axillary and pedunculate, flowers are either solitary or in racemes or panicles. Male flowers may be 4- or 5-merous and the female flowers are 4-merous. Most species are dioecious, a small number are monoecious.[1][4][5]

Fruits are an achene, often compressed, and may be eclosed within the swollen pedicel.[1][4][5]

Taxonomy

The genus Dendrocnide was raised in 1851 by the Dutch physician, botanist, and taxonomist Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel (1811–1871) who dedicated a large part of his life to describing specimens of the flora of the Dutch East Indies which were sent to him by his many contacts.[7] This genus was first published in the work Plantae Junghuhnianae, in which he described three species, namely D. peltata, D. costata (the original type species that is now known as D. stimulans) and D. coerulea.[8][2]

Etymology

The name of this genus comes from Ancient Greek déndron (tree), and knī́dē (nettle), referring to the large size of most species in this genus.[9][6]FR

List of species

Leaves clustered at the ends of the branches. Dendrocnide meyeniana

The following list shows all 42 species recognised by Plants of the World Online as of 17 April 2023 , and a brief summary of its distribution.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Chew, W.L. (2021). Kodela, P.G. (ed.). "Dendrocnide Miq". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Dendrocnide Miq". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  3. ^ Chew, W.L. (2021). Kodela, P.G. (ed.). "Dendrocnide excelsa". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "PlantNET - FloraOnline". PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Dendrocnide Miq". World Flora Online. World Flora Online Consortium. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b Mlynarik, Tony. "Stinging Trees: Plants that make you go hmmm…". Land for Wildlife - South East Queensland. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  7. ^ Stafleu, F.A. "F. A. W. Miquel, Netherlands botanist" (PDF). Naturalis Institutional Repository. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  8. ^ Miquel, F.A.G. "Plantae junghuhnianae". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  9. ^ Chew, W.-L.; Kodela, P.G. Kodela, P.G. (ed.). "Dendrocnide moroides". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Dendrocnide corallodesme". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Dendrocnide cordifolia". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Dendrocnide excelsa". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  13. ^ "PlantNET - FloraOnline". PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Dendrocnide moroides". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Dendrocnide peltata". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Dendrocnide photiniphylla". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Dendrocnide sinuata". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 19 July 2021.

Notes

  1. ^ Plants of the World Online recognises 42 species, Flora of Australia 37, and World Flora Online 43
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