Hen’s nettle, Island nettle
Laportea interrupta

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A small herb up to 60 cm high but it can grow to 2m. It has stinging hairs. The stems are woody at the base. The leaves are alternate. They are produced on 3-7 cm long leaf stalks. The leaves are toothed at the edge. The leaves are 8-13 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They have a papery texture. The flowers are greenish in small clusters. Flowers are of separate sexes but on the same plant. They grow in the axils of leaves on a longish stalk. This stalk can be 10 cm long. The fruit is one celled and dry. It is about 1.5 cm long. It has a smooth wing like edge.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is widespread in the lowland tropics mostly below 700 m altitude. It grows best in part shade. It grows in savannah woodland. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, Fiji, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Micronesia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pan tropical, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten, cooked. CAUTION The stinging hairs cause mild pain to the skin when touched.

A fairly common plant which is mainly grown and eaten by Tolais in Papua New Guinea and is called Kari in Tok Kuanua.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It mostly grows wild. It can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Choriyan, Choriyanam, Kyet-phet-yar, Ogoogo, Ogoogo toto, Palilolia, Phet-yar-pho, Usogo, Yoyol

Synonyms

Fleurya interrupta (L.) Gaud.; Urtica interrupta L.;