Gympie stinger, Mulberry-leaved Stinger, Stinging bush
Dendrocnide moroides

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A shrub up to 4 m high. The leaves are simple and 11-28 cm long. Both sides of the leaves have stinging hairs. Plants are separately male and female. The fruit are 1.6 cm long by 1.8 cm wide. They occur in bunches in the axils of leaves. The colour can be white or pink. There are several seeds inside. The seeds are 1-2 mm across. The fruit is edible once the stinging hairs have been removed.

There are 36 Dendrocnide species.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It grows naturally in rainforest in Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. It grows from sea level to 900 m above sea level. It is best in a rich, well-composted soils. It grows in an open, sunny position. It is damaged by frost and drought.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, East Timor, Malesia, SE Asia, Timor-Leste

How it is used for food

The hairs sting badly making eating the fruit very difficult.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Laportea moroides Wedd.; Urtica moroides Wedd.; Uricastrum moroides (Wedd.) Kuntze;