Boehmeria glomerulifera

Miq.

Teshi Huyes

Urticaceae Edible: Leaves Potential hazards — see below 7 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Deciduous shrub growing 4m tall. Flowers November to January; seeds ripen March to May. Dioecious, requiring both male and female plants for seed production. Not self-fertile. Grows in light sandy and medium loamy, well-drained soils with mildly acid to basic pH. Tolerates semi-shade to full sun and prefers dry or moist soil.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-5 m tall. The leaves are alternate and narrowly oval. They are 9-21 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. They are papery and slightly rough.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

Although members of the nettle family, plants in this genus do not have stinging hairs.

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in forests between 100-1,400 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in the milder parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in a warm sandy soil that is very well-drained. We are not sure if this species is dioecious or monoecious.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whilst smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well. Layering. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Grow them on for their first winter in the cold frame and then plant them out in the summer.

Other Uses

Fibre A fibre is obtained from the stem. It is of excellent quality. Special Uses

Notes

There are between 40 and 100 Boehmeria species.

References (2)

Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 5
Gangwar, A. K. & Ramakrishnan, P. S., 1990, Ethnobotanical Notes on Some Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeastern India. Economic Botany, Vol. 44, No. 1 pp. 94-105