Small soft nettle, Small elatostema
Elatostema stipitatum
Family: Urticaceae
What it is like
A small herb. It is smaller than Elatostema reticulatum. It grows 10-30 cm high and spreads 10-20 cm wide. It forms weak slender clumps. The stems are 10-30 cm long. They root at the base. The leaves are 2-5 cm long and 0.5-2.5 cm wide. They are oblong or sword shaped and without a stalk. They are thin textured and dark green. There are teeth along the leaf edge. The male flower heads are 0.4-0.6 cm across and with a prominent stalk. The female flower heads are 0.1-0.2 cm across and with a prominent stalk. The flowers are about 0.1 cm across.
There are about 200 Elatostema species.
Where it is found
It grows in moist, shady locations in rainforests. It responds to adequate fertiliser. It grows in warm temperate locations.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.