Chalnesisnu, African jolanettle
Boehmeria macrophylla

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A herb or shrub. It can be party woody. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 2.5 m tall. Plants are separately male or female. The leaves are broadly oval and 6-18 cm long by 3-12 cm wide.

Leaves are fed to cattle. There are about 100 Boehmeria species. They grow in the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in Nepal between 500-2500 m altitude. It grows on moist hillsides. It suits light sandy well-drained soils. It grows in Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, China, Congo DR, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or root offshoots.

Its other names

Local names

Kamle ghans, Kamle jhar, Kamley, Loklok, Mubgulugulu, Ngamba kishuusha

Synonyms

Boehmeria macrostachya (Wallich ex D. Don) Weddell; Boehmeria platyphylla Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don; Boehmeria platyphylla var. scabrella (Roxb.) Weddell; Boehmeria scabrella Gaud.; Splitgerbera macrostachya (Wallich ex D. Don) Wight; Urtica macrostachya Wallich ex D. Don; Urtica scabrella Roxb.; and many others