Devil nettle, Fever nettle
Dendrocnide sinuata

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It can grow 5 m tall. It has soft stems. The young parts have stinging hairs. The leaves are large and oval. They can have notches near the tip. The flowers are white.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in wet evergreen forests in Asia. It usually grows between 300-850 m above sea level but can grow to 1,200 m.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand

How it is used for food

The flowers are picked carefully (to avoid the stinging hairs) and then cooked as a vegetable with fish. The flowers are used in curries. They are also fried. The seeds are used like coriander. The young shoots are boiled and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, seeds - spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Anachoriyan, Chorpata, Gilmat-jakma, Jelatang nyiru, Kerma, Moringe, Morungey, Ongyalop, Ottapilavu, Paji, Phronglo, Pur raat, Sorot gosh, Sorot-gach, Tarmepi, Thak-pui, Thlak-pui, Torash, Utigun

Synonyms

Laportea crenulata Guad.; Urtica sinuata Blume; and others Laportea stimulus Miq.; ?