Dendrocnide peltata

Dendrocnide peltata, commonly known simply as the stinging tree or jelaton, is a large tree in the nettle family Urticaceae. With the other species of the genus Dendrocnide, it is known for the stinging hairs which cover the whole plant and cause severe pain when touched. The specific epithet comes from the Latin pelta (a shield), referring to the peltate leaves.^[1]

Description

Dendrocnide peltata is a dioecious rainforest tree. Although often encountered as a small, subcanopy tree, it may grow to be a large canopy tree up to 30 m high. The trunk grows to a diameter of 650 mm, and is usually crooked and lacking buttresses, while the bark is green or grey in colour, and rough, scaly or flaky in texture. The large leaves, which are broadly ovate, usually peltate, rounded at the base, crenate, acute to acuminate, dark green above and pale green beneath, are clustered at the ends of the branches. The small flowers grow as axillary inflorescences. The fruits are about 20 mm long, green or brown, with the seeds about 2 mm in diameter.^[2][1]

Distribution and habitat

The two botanic varieties of the tree are:

• Dendrocnide peltata (Blume) Miq. var. peltata is native to Java, Bali, New Guinea and Christmas Island.
• Dendrocnide peltata var. murrayana (Rendle) Chew is endemic to Christmas Island.

References

Notes

Sources

• Conn, Barry; & Damas, Kipiro. "Dendrocnide peltata (Bl.) Miq.". PNGTreesKey. National Herbaria of New South Wales and Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 2010-11-21. 
• "Dendrocnide peltata (Blume) Miq.". Flora of Australia Online. Australian Biological Resources Study. 1993. Retrieved 2010-11-21.