Boehmeria nivea is a very variable species. Variants have often been recognised formally at the level of species, variety or form, distinguished on characters such as size of leaves, shape of leaf base, length of acuminate apex, density or presence or absence of white tomentum on abaxial leaf surface and stipules connate or free, but a range of intergrading forms exists with all characters varying independently such that formal distinction is artificial[].

Common Name: Ramie

General Information

Boehmeria nivea is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant forming a cluster of stems that can become woody and persistent, at least at their base. The plant usually grows from 50 - 300cm tall, with stems up to 2cm in diameter, though occasional plants up to 7 metres tall are recorded[, , ].
Producing a very high quality fibre, the plant is much cultivated, especially in China, with a history of cultivation going back at least 3,000 years[]. It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and also for medicinal use. It is used in soil stabilization projects and also occasionally cultivated for its fibre or as an ornamental plant in southern Europe[].
It is impossible now to establish the natural distribution of this common, widely cultivated and naturalised species. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

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

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China to the Himalayas of Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal.

Habitat

 Evergreen forests especially along streams; widely naturalised at forest margins, in ravines and thickets, along roadsides and in other disturbed areas, often on limestone; at elevations from 200 - 1,700 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.80 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the sub-tropics to the tropics, also succeeding in warm temperate areas. The plant can be grown between latitudes 6 - 45°N and 9 - 38°S. It is adapted to a relative air humidity about 80%. Both excessive rainfall and drought affects the quality of the fibre. Relatively flat areas, not subject to flooding as well as gentle sloping lands, not subject to erosion are suitable for ramie production. It is found at elevations up to 1,300 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 17 - 27°c, but can tolerate 10 - 34°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,000mm[].
Requires a rich warm sandy soil that is very well drained[, , , ]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils so long as they are fertile[]. Intolerant of wet soils[]. This is a very greedy plant that can soon impoverish a soil, it requires a lot of feeding if it is to perform well[]. All plant remains, after the fibre has been removed, should be returned to the soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.4 - 6.5, tolerating 4.8 - 7.5[].
Boehmeria nivea is an extremely variable species that is widespread over large areas of subtropical and tropical Asia. Its complex species includes several forms that have sometimes been given specific or subspecific rank, though they are now considered to be a part of one highly variable species[]. The form formerly known as Boehmeria nivea tenacissima (Gaud.) Miq., which produces the fibre 'Rhea' is found in Malaysia and is not hardy in the temperate zone[].
Yields are from 375 to 900 kilos of fibre (per acre?)[]. Two to four harvests per year are possible depending upon the climate, it is harvested as the stems turn brown[].
Yields of green plants may in temperate regions vary between 15 - 20 tonnes/ha and in tropical areas 8 - 10 tonnes/ha. Yields of about 1400 kg fibre/ha have been reported[].
There are an increase in yields in the 2nd and 3rd year[].
Stems can be harvested 2 - 3 times per year in temperate areas, 4 - 5 times in subtropical areas and in the tropics up to 6 crops can be produced annually[].
The crop is normally replanted after 7 - 10 years, but may persist for 20 years[].
The plant tends to take up whatever minerals are present in the soil. This could cause problems for example high uptake of molybdenum can lead to conditioned copper deficiency[].

Edible Uses

Root - peeled and boiled. A pleasant, sweet taste[]. We can detect very little flavour, but the root has a very strange mucilaginous texture that does not appeal to most people who have tried it[]. Once in the mouth, it takes a lot of chewing before it is ready to be swallowed[].


Leaves - cooked[].
The leaves are used for making cakes[]. This report could refer to the plants use as a poultice[].

Medicinal

The plant is antiphlogistic, demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge, haemostatic and vulnerary. It is used to prevent miscarriages and promote the drainage of pus[, ]. The plant is used as a medicine to relieve fevers and infections of the urethra[].

The leaves are astringent and resolvent[, ]. They are used in the treatment of fluxes and wounds[].

The root contains the flavonoid rutin[]. It is antiabortifacient, antibacterial, cooling, demulcent, diuretic, resolvent and uterosedative[, ]. It is used in the treatment of threatened abortions, colic of pregnancy, haemorrhoids, leucorrhoea, impetigo etc[].
The fresh root is pounded into a mush and used as a poultice[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Planted to prevent erosion in gullies[].

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the inner bark of the stem - of excellent quality, it is used for textiles, linen etc and is said to be moth-proof[, , , , , ]. Yields are from 375 to 900 kilos of fibre (per acre?)[]. Two to four harvests per year are possible depending upon the climate, it is harvested as the stems turn brown[]. Best harvested as the female flowers open according to another report[]. The outer bark is removed and then the fibrous inner bark is taken off and boiled before being woven into thread[]. The fibres are the longest known in the plant realm.[, ] The tensile strength is 7 times that of silk and 8 times that of cotton, this is improved on wetting the fibre[]. The fibre is also used for making paper[]. The leaves are removed from the stems, the stems are steamed and the fibres stripped off. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye, fresh material might require longer cooking, and they are then beaten in a Hollander beater[] before being made into paper.

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.