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Useful Temperate Plants

Boehmeria japonica

(L.f.) Miq.

Urticaceae


Boehmeria japonica is a very variable species and has, in the past, often been treated as a number of distinct species. However the differences between these species is not clearcut, with many intermediary forms being found. The complex of species is treated here as a single taxon subdivided into three partly intergrading varieties, differing in a combination of indumentum and leaf morphology with incompletely overlapping distributions, the morphological distinctions slightly obscured by intermediates between them and by a group of hybrids, some of uncertain parentage[
1106
Title
The Old World species of Boehmeria (Urticaceae, tribus Boehmerieae). A taxonomic revision
Publication
Blumea 58, 2013: 85-216
Author
Wilmot-Dear C.M. & Friis I.
Website
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/blumea
Publisher
 
Year
2013
ISBN
 
Description
A comprehensive revision of the genus.
].

+ Synonyms

Boehmeria grandifolia (Thunb.) Wedd.

Boehmeria hatusimae Satake

Boehmeria holosericea Blume

Boehmeria longispica Steud.

Boehmeria macrophylla tomentosa (Wedd.) D.G.Long

Boehmeria maximowiczii Nakai & Satake

Boehmeria miqueliana Tanaka

Boehmeria pachystachya Satake

Boehmeria pilushanensis Y.C.Liu & F.Y.Lu

Boehmeria platanifolia Franch. & Sav.

Boehmeria platyphylla japonica (L.f.) Wedd.

Boehmeria platyphylla macrophylla (Thunb.) Wedd.

Boehmeria rubricaulis Makino

Boehmeria scabrella (Roxb.) Gaudich.

Boehmeria spicata (Thunb.) Thunb.

Boehmeria spicata duploserrata Wight

Boehmeria taiwaniana Nakai & Satake

Boehmeria tricuspis [Hance] Makino

Duretia longispica (Steud.) Nakai

Duretia spicata (Thunb.) Nakai

Duretia tricuspis (Hance) Nakai

Urtica japonica L.f.

Urtica spicata Thunb.

Common Name:

Boehmeria japonica
Cultivated plant in the VanDusen Botanical Garden - Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Photograph by: Daderot
Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
Boehmeria japonica Boehmeria japonica

General Information

Boehmeria japonica is a perennial plant producing a dense cluster of stems that become more or less woody and can persist; often becoming robust and thick-stemmed, the plant can grow from 1.5 - 5 metres tall. In cold winter areas it usually dies back to a woody rootstock in winters[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1106
Title
The Old World species of Boehmeria (Urticaceae, tribus Boehmerieae). A taxonomic revision
Publication
Blumea 58, 2013: 85-216
Author
Wilmot-Dear C.M. & Friis I.
Website
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/blumea
Publisher
 
Year
2013
ISBN
 
Description
A comprehensive revision of the genus.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild, mainly for its useful fibre which is used locally.
The plant is known from many locations in a wide range of habitats. It is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
1106
Title
The Old World species of Boehmeria (Urticaceae, tribus Boehmerieae). A taxonomic revision
Publication
Blumea 58, 2013: 85-216
Author
Wilmot-Dear C.M. & Friis I.
Website
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/blumea
Publisher
 
Year
2013
ISBN
 
Description
A comprehensive revision of the genus.
].

Known Hazards

Although members of the nettle family, plants in this genus do not have stinging hairs[
235
Title
An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Publication
 
Author
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Publisher
Dover Publications. New York.
Year
1970
ISBN
0-486-22642-5
Description
Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
].

Botanical References

58
Title
Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Publication
 
Author
Ohwi. G.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1965
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1106
Title
The Old World species of Boehmeria (Urticaceae, tribus Boehmerieae). A taxonomic revision
Publication
Blumea 58, 2013: 85-216
Author
Wilmot-Dear C.M. & Friis I.
Website
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/blumea
Publisher
 
Year
2013
ISBN
 
Description
A comprehensive revision of the genus.

Range

E. Asia - southern and eastern China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea.

Habitat

Very varied; growing in swamps in sandy soil; streams and moist slopes in deciduous forest, forest margins; open or shady damp ravines; thin evergreen forest; scrub in valleys; barren dry hillsides; grassland; walls and roadsides; 70 - 2,600 metres[
1106
Title
The Old World species of Boehmeria (Urticaceae, tribus Boehmerieae). A taxonomic revision
Publication
Blumea 58, 2013: 85-216
Author
Wilmot-Dear C.M. & Friis I.
Website
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/blumea
Publisher
 
Year
2013
ISBN
 
Description
A comprehensive revision of the genus.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Shrub
Height1.20 m
PollinatorsApomixy
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Boehmeria japonica ranges from the temperate zone of central China (hardiness zone 6) to the subtropical and tropical regions of southern China and Taiwan.
Succeeds in a warm sandy soil[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
] that is very well-drained[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants are found in a wide variety of habitats in the wild, including swamps in sandy soils plus dry hillsides and walls[
1106
Title
The Old World species of Boehmeria (Urticaceae, tribus Boehmerieae). A taxonomic revision
Publication
Blumea 58, 2013: 85-216
Author
Wilmot-Dear C.M. & Friis I.
Website
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/blumea
Publisher
 
Year
2013
ISBN
 
Description
A comprehensive revision of the genus.
].
Usually a dioecious species, though mainly female plants with some male inflorescences are also known. Female plants are also known to produce seed without fertilization by male pollen (Apomixis). In general both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1106
Title
The Old World species of Boehmeria (Urticaceae, tribus Boehmerieae). A taxonomic revision
Publication
Blumea 58, 2013: 85-216
Author
Wilmot-Dear C.M. & Friis I.
Website
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/blumea
Publisher
 
Year
2013
ISBN
 
Description
A comprehensive revision of the genus.
].

Edible Uses

Roots - cooked[
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
].

Young leaves - cooked[
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. The stems and the leaves are dried and ground into a meal then used in dumplings[
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
].

Medicinal

The leaves are used as a medicine for treating fevers and relieve internal fever[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Other Uses

The fibre obtained from the stems is used to make ropes, cloth and paper[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

An extract of the whole plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin protector[
1243
Title
CosIng
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
CosIng is the European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients.
]. (As Boehmeria spicata)

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse, only just covering 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.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-19. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Boehmeria+japonica>

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