Nilgiri nettle
Girardinia palmata

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It is woody at the base and keeps growing from year to year. It grows 2.5 m tall. It has bristles 5 mm long and stout stinging hairs. The stems are shoots are ridged. The leaves are broadly oval and hairy. They are 7-25 cm long by 6-15 cm wide and can have lobes arranged like fingers on a hand. The flowers are very small. The female flowers are in bristly spikes.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Sikkim it grows between 900-2,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Yemen

How it is used for food

The young leaves are boiled and eaten.

It is commonly eaten in Bhutan.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bhalar, Bhangresisnoo, Bhangre shisnu, Bhangre sisnoo, Gaddanelli, Kai, Kazoobi, Keri, Kuzu surong, Turike, Zocha

Synonyms

Girardinia leschenaultiana Decne; Urtica palmata Forssk.;