Climbing nettle
Urera trinervis

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A soft scrambling shrub. It can be 3 m tall. It can occur in the canopy in evergreen forest. The bark is brown or greenish. The leaves are oval or heart shaped. They are 12 cm long by 6 cm wide. The surface of the leaf has a textured feel. There are 3 veins from the base. The edge of the leaf is wavy. The flowers are of separate sexes on separate plants. They are small and greenish-white. They occur in small branched sprays in the axils of leaves. The fruit are small nuts.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest. It suits humid locations. It grows between 300-1,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young stems contain useful water. The leaves are occasionally cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

A minor vegetable only of local importance.

Edible parts

Leaves, stem - drink, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Basoke, Oghai

Synonyms

Urera cameroonensis Wedd.; Urera woodii N. E. Brown; Elatostema trinerve N. E. Br.;