Urera cordifolia
Family: Urticaceae
What it is like
A woody climber. Male and female plants are separate. It grows 10 m long. The stems are 3 cm across. They attach to other plants by roots along the stem. The stem is 5 lobed in cross section. Younger branches have stinging hairs. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf stalk is 12 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 18 cm long. The base is rounded or heart shaped and it tapers to the tip. The flowers are in loose groups in the axils of leaves. The male stalks are 16 cm long and the female ones 6 cm long. The flowers are only of one sex. Male flowers have a 2 mm long stalk. Female flowers do not have a stalk. The fruit is dry and 2 mm long.
There are about 35 Urera species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in dense, humid lowland forest.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Gabon, Nigeria, West Africa
How it is used for food
The leaves are cooked in soups and in stews.
It is a minor local vegetable.
Edible parts
Leaves, vegetable