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Dendrocnide moroides
Urticaceae FAMILY

Dendrocnide moroides

Dendrocnide moroides

Edibility
1/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant has intensely stinging hairs on the leaves, young branches and fruits. This is reported to be the most painful of all stinging trees[1]. The stinging hairs break off when touched and inject a poison into the skin. Immediate burning sensation and itching will follow, including reddening and blistering. The burning can last for weeks. If the stinging hairs are not removed with wax shortly after the contact, the pain can recur for months[2]. People can suffer even if they don't touch the plant. These trees continuously shed their stinging hairs. Staying close to a stinging tree for more than an hour can cause painful and continuous bouts of sneezing[2].

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Tree
Growth—

Plants in this genus are essentially lowland primary forest species preferring slightly moist and somewhat shady habitats[3]. Plants usually commence flowering and fruiting when around 1 - 3 metres tall[4]. Unlike other members of this genus, this species is not dioecious - both male and female flowers are produced on the same plant[1].

Propagation

Seed - easy[5]. Cuttings root easily - just thrusting a branch into moist ground will usually produce a new plant[5]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Dendrocnide+moroides>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 25 — Botanic Gardens; Singapore · 1969 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx ↩︎A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the genera Dendrocnide and Laportea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
  2. [2]Contact-Poisonous Plants of the World — Rohde. M. · 2006 · http://mic-ro.com/plants/ ↩︎A document on the internet. Gives brief information on about 35 species of plants that can cause severe problems from a single contact with the skin.
  3. [3]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
  4. [4]Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants — http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/rfk/index.html ↩︎An online resource giving botanical information, and a little bit about plant usage, for over 2,700 species of plants found in the Australian rainforest.
  5. [5]Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6 — Nicholson N. & H. · Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales. · 2007 · ISBN 9-78095894-3628 ↩︎Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
  6. [6]Wild Food in Australia. — Cribb. A. B. and J. W. · Fontana · 1976 · ISBN 0-00-634436-4 ↩︎A very good pocket guide.
  7. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎