Dendrocnide microstigma (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Dendrocnide microstigma (Gaudich. ex Wedd.) Chew

Family: Urticaceae

Synonyms

Laportea microstigma Gaudich. ex Wedd.

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: kemaduh, lateng (Javanese), kelating (Minahassa).

Distribution

Indonesia (Java, northern Sulawesi).

Uses

The bast is made into rope. The soft wood of this and other Dendrocnide species is only suitable for firewood.

Observations

A monoecious or dioecious tree, 10-15 m tall; trunk 30-85 cm in diameter, branched from the base. Leaves spirally arranged, simple; stipules connate into an axillary scale; petiole 2.5-5.5 cm long; blade oblong-lanceolate, 16-28 cm × 5-8 cm, base subcordate, obtuse or acute, apex acuminate, with 12-22 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescence an axillary, unisexual panicle, 10-15 cm long; male flowers with 4-5-parted perianth, tepals oblong, about 1.5 mm long; female flowers with 4-parted or lobed perianth, stigma linear, persistent, minute. Fruit an obliquely ovoid or orbicular, laterally strongly compressed achene, 1.7-2 mm long. D. microstigma is found in low-altitude forest. D. stimulans (L.f.) Chew (synonym: Laportea stimulans (L.f.) Miq.) has been recorded as a source of bark for cordage, but it seems to have more importance as a medicinal plant.

Selected sources

6, 71, 191.

Authors

M. Brink, P.C.M. Jansen & C.H. Bosch