Dendrocnide photinophylla

Shining leaved Stinging Tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Urticaceae
Genus:	Dendrocnide
Species:	D. photinophylla
Binomial name
Dendrocnide photinophylla (Kunth) Chew

Dendrocnide photinophylla, the shining-leaved stinging tree, is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia. It occurs from near the Colo River north west of Sydney to Cooktown in tropical Queensland. A versatile species occurring in many different rainforest types.^[1] The specific epithet photinophylla translates to shining leaf. The generic name translates to "Stinging Tree".

Sting

D. photinophylla seedling with pronounced stinging hairs on the upper surface of the leaf.

Stinging Trees are often disliked by bush walkers and nature lovers because of the reaction of the stinging hairs to human skin. However, they are an important member of the ecosystems of Australian rainforests. The sting of this plant is not considered as severe as the related Dendrocnide excelsa or Dendrocnide moroides. However, avoiding the leaves and twigs is strongly recommended.

Description

Older D. photinophylla with the mature-form glossy leaves with stinging hairs restricted primarily to the leaf veins.

A medium to large sized tree up to 30 metres tall and with a stem diameter of 75 cm. The trunk is flanged or buttressed. The grey bark is fairly smooth but with some bumps, lines and ridges. Small branches are smooth and grey, with green at the ends.

Leaves glossy with erect stinging hairs particularly on the leaf veins. Leaves elliptic in shape, 6 to 13 cm long, 3 to 8 cm wide^[2]

Male and female flowers sometimes on separate trees. Appearing yellowish green from November to June on small panicles from the leaf axils. The fruit is an unevenly shaped nut or an achene, resembling a mass of white grubs. Maturing from January to March. The fruit would be edible for humans if not for the stinging hairs. Fruit eaten by many rainforest birds, including the Regent Bowerbird and Torresian Crow.

Uses

Indigenous Australians used the fibres to make nets and bags.

References

1. ^ Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 2008, ISBN 9780958943673 page 425
2. ^ "Dendrocnide photinophylla". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Dendrocnide~photinophylla. Retrieved 2 June 2010.