Giant stinging tree
Dendrocnide excelsa

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A tall spreading tree. It grows 10-38 m high and spreads 5-15 m wide. The bark is grey and scaly. The timber is soft. The young parts are covered with stiff stinging hairs. The leaves are 15-30 cm long by 15-20 cm wide. They are broadly oval and pale green. There are teeth around the edge. The leaf stalks are 3-15 cm long. The flowering stalks are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are of one sex. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The nut is 0.1-0.2 cm across. It is on a fleshy stalk. This is white or pink.

There are 36 Dendrocnide species. CAUTION: Leaves sting badly.

Where it is found

It grows in rainforests in subtropical and warm temperate places. It is often in clearings and on the edges of the forest. It needs a well drained soil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Caution: The plant has stinging hairs. The fruit is edible after the stinging hairs are removed.

Edible parts

Fruit, fruit stalk

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seed or by cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Laportea gigas;