Urtica ferox

Urtica ferox
Urtica ferox leaves and spines
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Urtica
Species: U. ferox
Binomial name
Urtica ferox
Georg Forster

Urtica ferox, commonly known by its Maori name ongaonga, is a nettle that is endemic to New Zealand. It is sometimes known as the "tree nettle", "Taraonga", "Taraongaonga" or "Okaoka". Unlike other herbaceous species in the Urtica family ongaonga is a large woody shrub. It has woody stems and unusually large stinging spines that can result in a painful sting that lasts several days. The shrub can grow to a height of 3m with the base of the stem reaching 12cm in thickness. The pale green leaves are very thin like a membrane, the surface of the leave, stems and stalks are covered in stiff stinging hairs can grow up to six millimeter. These spines are prominent along the salient mid-vein and leaf margin. The leaves rang from 3 - 5cm in width and 8 - 12cm in length, these are oppositely arranged and there are two stipules per node. The leaf shape is ovulate-triangulate with a serrated leaf margin each bearing a spine of upto 1m. The spines covering the leaf surface, stem and stalk are generally no larger than 6mm in length, the spines on the older darker bark are smaller and softer, these don't cause a sting. This nettle is winter deciduous in cold climates, evergreen in mild climates and can lose its leaves in drought conditions if it is growing in shallow soils.

The toxin present in the spines is triffydin or tryfydin, this toxin contains histamine, serotonin and acetylcholine, the last of which causes powerful stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve system. Multiple stinging’s can have a very painful reaction which causes inflammation, a rash, itching, and in high concentrations loss of motor movement, paralysis, drop in blood pressure, convulsions, blurred vision and confusion. The toxin from 5 spines are enough to kill a guinea pig. There has been one recorded human death from contact—a lightly clad hunter who died five hours after walking through a dense patch.[1] Acute polyneuropathy can occur due to U. ferox stings.[2]

In Maori folklore, Kupe was said to have placed several obstacles to hinder pursuers whose wives he had stolen, one of which was the ongaonga.

Ongaonga is the main food plant for larvae of the New Zealand red admiral butterfly or kahukura, Vanessa gonerilla.

Distribution

The Tree Nettle is an endemic species to New Zealand which inhabits sub-tropical and temperate regions, the plant is very common in the North Island but limited in the South. In the South it's commonly found on the West Coast and on Banks Peninsula, the plant is not commonly found east of Otago where the climate is much drier. The shrub commonly inhabits altitudes between sea level and 600m above sea level, it has found a niche in the margin between native bush and farmland where stock graze. Due to this it may be the only native plant in New Zealand to benefit from the conversion of native forest to arable land.

Life cycle/Phenology

Among the periods of November to March, the tree nettle flowers.[3]Because the tree nettle is a dioecious shrub,[4]it will cross pollinate. The pollen of male flowers can transfer to the female flowers through wind. These pollen grains can be collected by female dense stigmas.[5]When pollen arrives in the female flowers, the pollination of female flowers will begin. Then on the January, the fruit of tree nettle mature. The seed of tree nettle is one and half millimeters long and brown color, ovoid shape like.[6]When the seed is planted in the environment which has morn light and water, it will take one month to germinate.One study found that the seeds germinate after one month in soil, the seeds germinate throughout winter and spring of the year they are dropped. In this study cited (Burrows 1996) out of the 5 different Woody seeding species Urtica ferox had the lowest germination rate of 59% compared to >85% of the other similar species, the author surmise that Tree Nettle is capable of building up a large seed bank in the soil which will survive for 5 – 15 years.Seed dispersal is carried out by rolling, wind and in the gut of birds, the seeds are achenes and are surrounded by a persistent perianth which contribute to the long lived seed bank it produces. This is important for the ecological niche that it inhabits, we can surmise that it doesn’t do well competitively with the other species in its environment due to its growth on boundary zones, an adaption for long lived seed banks are therefore advantageous as it must wait for clearing and collapse of the larger dominating species before it can take hold.[7]

Diet and foraging

The tree nettle requires high nutrient levels found in cycling forest systems such as beech forest and native New Zealand forest. In these environments an “A type” soil horizon of rich leaf litter and humus between 10 – 80cm is common. This is significant as the species doesn’t directly compete with other flora, this is achieved through inhabiting the boundary zones between strata, therefore the high soil fertility,[8]like other species in the nettle family, grows well in soils with high nutrient levels, especially high quantities of nitrogen[9] and access to open sunlight and rainwater results in a rapidly growing plant able to take advantage of natural tree fall and other natural events such as land slides and flooding which clear dominating old growth species.

Predators, Parasites, and Diseases

Although tree nettle is a toxic shrub, it also play a significant part in the phenology of a local butterfly, namely red admiral (Brassaris gonerilla).The leaves of tree nettle is the preferred food and safety place for the butterfly larvae. When the larvae arrives in the leaves, it will curve the tip of nettle leaf, use the silken threads to make the leaves together, which can construct a security place where they can eat the food.[10][11]Due to the caterpillar’s activities, the leaves of shrubs can fall down.Moreover, the eggs of butterfly, also include yellow admiral (Vanessa itea), are laid on the leaves of nettle during the spring and summer, it will take eight to ten days to incubate. Beside the butterfly, some mammals also eat the leaves of tree nettle, like the brushtail possum,[12]goats and deer[13]

Cultural uses

In the Māori culture, tree nettle play an important role in the people’s life, for example, it can be used in medicine, food.In medicine, many Māori use the bark of tree nettle and the leaves of kawakawa, boiled together, then the liquid can used internally to cure eczema and venereal disease, it can treat serious bruising by using externally. On the other hand, for wounds and abrasions, the leaves and bark can treat this effectively. The liquid extract from grilled leaves can apply on the surface of severe wounds, resulting the wound to slowly heal. Also the leaves of tree nettle play a significant part in the treating pains, the decoction of leaves and youth twigs dip in boiled water is said to have a benefit on stomachache and on the treatment of gonorrhea.[14][15] It is also commonly documented that Urtica ferox was a food source for Maori. The inner stems were sometimes consumed after the leaves and outer bark had been removed, [16]the thin film that makes up the inner bark was also eaten raw and is said to have a sweet taste, it is also documented that stems were cooked after having the leaves removed.[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Poisonous native plants, Poisonous Plants and Fungi, Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
  2. ↑ Kanzaki M, Tsuchihara T, McMorran D, Taylor P, Hammond-Tooke GD.,"A rat model of Urtica ferox neuropathy." Neurotoxicology. 2010 Dec;31(6):709-14
  3. ↑ Wardle, J. (2011). "Wardle’s Native Trees of New Zealand and their story". Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Farm Forestry Association
  4. ↑ Eagle, A. (1986)." Eagle’s tree and shrubs of New Zealand: volume one revised". Auckland, New Zealand: Williams Collins (NEW ZEALAND) Ltd
  5. ↑ Webb, C.J., Johnson, P.R., Sykes, W.R., (1990). "Flowering Plants of New Zealand". Christchurch, New Zealand: Botany Division, D.S.I.R
  6. ↑ Salmon, J.T. (1998). "Native Trees of New Zealand 2". Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Books
  7. ↑ Burrows, C.J. (1996) "Germination behavior of seeds of the New Zealand woody species Melicope simplex, Myoporum laetum, Myrsine divaricate, and Urtica ferox". New Zealand Journal of Botany, 34, 205-213.
  8. ↑ Burrows, C. J. (1996)." Germination behavior of seeds of the New Zealand woody species Melicope simplex, Myoporum laetum, Myrsine divaricata and Urtica ferox." New Zealand Journal of Botany.
  9. ↑ Rollwagen, A.(2006). Species Profile: Tree Nettle. Retrieved from Canterbury Nature: http://www.canterburynature.org/species/lincoln_essays/treenettle.php
  10. ↑ Barron, M.C.,Wratten, S.D. & Barlow, N.D.(2004)‘Phenology and parasitism of the red admiral butterfly Brassaris gonerilla (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)." New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 28/(1), 105-111
  11. ↑ Landcare research.(2005). "Red Admiral." Retrieved from http://www. landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/animals/bug-id/alphabetic-list-of-bugs/red-admiral
  12. ↑ Cowan, P.E. (1990) "Fruits, seeds, and flowers in the diet of brushtail possums, Trichosurus vulpecula, in lowland podocarp/mixed hardwood forest, Orongorongo Valley," New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology,17,549–566
  13. ↑ Brockie, R. (1992)."A living New Zealand forest." Auckland, New Zealand: David Batemann Ltd
  14. ↑ Adames, O.(1945). "Maori medical plants." Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland Botanical Society Bulletin.
  15. ↑ Wardle, J. (2011). "Wardle’s Native Trees of New Zealand and their story. "Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Farm Forestry Association
  16. ↑ DoC.(2006, March).Retrieved from Department of Conservation: http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/getting-involved/students-and-teachers/field-trips-by-region/kapiti-education-kit/Species%20cards/ongaonga-tree-nettle.pdf
  17. ↑ Best, E. (1903). "Food products of Tuhoeland: being notes on the food-supplies of a non-agricultural tribe of the natives of New Zealand; together with some account of various customs, superstitions etc. pertaining to foods." Wellington, New Zealand: Transactions of the New Zealand Institute.

Further reading