Is this nettle?

Hi, inwas wondering , is this a type of neetle?
Do anybody know The scientific name?

Is it edible?


Cheers

That certainly looks to me like some kind of Laportea (wood nettle). They look like the northern wood nettle, Laportea canadensis, except a little more robust and waxy in appearance. However I cannot say anything definite about jungle plants. Have you been stung at all?

I'm in Brazil, not Panama, but around here in the forest ecosystems there are so many types of nettle-looking plants, including one that looks a lot like the one in your picture- we call it false nettle, Boehmeria cylindrica. It produces a fiber sometimes used in cordage.

That might be White Dead Nettle, Lamium album not stinging nettle.

Do the flowers open more?

Which kind of nettle were you hoping for?

eczema, sore throat (pharyngitis), abnormally heavy bleeding during menstrual periods

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-344/white-dead-nettle-flower

Tereza Okava wrote:I'm in Brazil, not Panama, but around here in the forest ecosystems there are so many types of nettle-looking plants, including one that looks a lot like the one in your picture- we call it false nettle, Boehmeria cylindrica. It produces a fiber sometimes used in cordage.

We have false nettle too! Interesting that they have such a wide range. They’re not very common but I have seen them, on a lake-shore. Could it be that they go to the water to avoid freezing I wonder? I don’t quite remember how it looked but I know it was a little different than wood nettle.

Oh wait—no, B. cylindrica has opposite leaves. So does white deadnettle and other mints. So I am still thinking Laportea…

Urera baccifera or another urera?

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=urera+baccifera&t=ffip&ia=images&iax=images

Maieshe Ljin wrote:We have false nettle too! Interesting that they have such a wide range.

There are sooooo many different types. When I first moved here I kept seeing "nettle" and getting excited but actual stinging nettle, the type I grew up with in eastern North America, I've only seen in botanical gardens. But we do have our own stinging nettle - despite being commonly called "urtiga" (like the Urtica species name) the species name is Urera. I just had some in my garden, it's very hard to remove and hurts much worse than the nettle I remember as a kid!

Maieshe Ljin wrote:Urera baccifera or another urera?

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=urera+baccifera&t=ffip&ia=images&iax=images

Aha, that is our urtiga! It looks totally different, rounder leaves and the flowers are pinkish and cloudy. Also the stings are on the leaves as well as the stalks.

Yes , similar effect than conventional nettle. Same pain and same hives.

Maieshe Ljin wrote:That certainly looks to me like some kind of Laportea (wood nettle). They look like the northern wood nettle, Laportea canadensis, except a little more robust and waxy in appearance. However I cannot say anything definite about jungle plants. Have you been stung at all?

I forgot to Say that The leaves are Big.  I been seen this plant having more than 2 meters tall.

I want to eat this plant but i don't know if it's toxic.

What do You recommend ? Should i try?

Anne Miller wrote:That might be White Dead Nettle, Lamium album not stinging nettle.

Do the flowers open more?

Which kind of nettle were you hoping for?

eczema, sore throat (pharyngitis), abnormally heavy bleeding during menstrual periods

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-344/white-dead-nettle-flower

Plants for a Future calls Urera baccifera, of which one of the common names is “nettle tree”, toxic when ingested so I would not take it if I were you. As an herbalist of sorts I eat all sorts of toxic things but it’s good to know how toxic first. It does not sound like something good to eat for food, though.

Maybe we will figure out that the plant is something different? It would be interesting to see what the flowers look like later in the year!

Ronaldo Montoya wrote:I want to eat this plant but i don't know if it's toxic.

What do You recommend ? Should i try?

If you are touching this plant and getting a skin rash that is a good sign that this is a plant you are not going to want to eat.

This is not nettle or stinging nettle.
This plant looks like it has alternate branching.  Going along the stem there is one leaf coming off and a little further there is another leaf coming off.


Nettle is in the mint family.   Plants in the mint family will have opposite branching and a square stem.  Opposite branching is when the leaves come off the stem opposite each other.   Like our arms come off our bodies.  

Stinging nettle has a deeply notched heart shaped leaf.  



Do you see how the leaves come off?





If you want to find out if you can eat a plant, the first place to start is to learn all the poisonous and toxic plants in your area.  These are your hazards.  It will be the shortest list and once you have learned them you will know, when you are approaching a new plant that it is not on this list.

The next thing is to learn your plant families.   This is another short list.   Once you know your families, you can identify what family the plant belongs to.   Some families have highly toxic members.  For example, in our region there are members of the parsley family that are poisonous and can cause death just from someone putting the plant in their mouth, not even eating it.  Some plants can cause a rash just from touching them or getting the sap on your skin.    

Other families do not have any poisonous members.   For example, the mustard family is safe to eat even though it might not always taste very good.  

Ronaldo Montoya wrote:I want to eat this plant but i don't know if it's toxic.

What do You recommend ? Should i try?

Anne Miller wrote:That might be White Dead Nettle, Lamium album not stinging nettle.

Do the flowers open more?

Which kind of nettle were you hoping for?

eczema, sore throat (pharyngitis), abnormally heavy bleeding during menstrual periods

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-344/white-dead-nettle-flower

The picture looked like berries not flowers so I asked

do the flowers open more

so a better id?

Which nettle were you hoping for?

did you go to that link?

Ronaldo Montoya wrote:I forgot to Say that The leaves are Big.  I been seen this plant having more than 2 meters tall.

This is 100% the Urera baccifera I have in my backyard (the purple stems in this picture also give it away). the stems that hold the flowers/fruit are usually pinkish or purple, not green, but maybe you picked them when they were still young or it's a regional variant.

I have seen some sources call it toxic and others call it medicinal but ONLY WHEN COOKED.
I think most of this is from modern internet translation problems, because the common names for the medicinal nettle in north america and the stinging plant here in south america (different species) are usually translated the same. I just searched a bit and found an automatically translated post on FB from english (on Brazilian FB) talking about stinging nettle (urticaria sp) but with a picture of this plant (Urera). This happens a lot with plants because there are so many common names and nowadays a lot of posts from english are being translated automatically. It's dangerous.
Ronaldo, if I were you I'd find something else to eat, even if it's not poisonous this plant will hurt you coming and going.

Samantha Lewis wrote:

Ronaldo Montoya wrote:I want to eat this plant but i don't know if it's toxic.

What do You recommend ? Should i try?

If you are touching this plant and getting a skin rash that is a good sign that this is a plant you are not going to want to eat.

This is not nettle or stinging nettle.
This plant looks like it has alternate branching.  Going along the stem there is one leaf coming off and a little further there is another leaf coming off.


Nettle is in the mint family.   Plants in the mint family will have opposite branching and a square stem.  Opposite branching is when the leaves come off the stem opposite each other.   Like our arms come off our bodies.  

Stinging nettle has a deeply notched heart shaped leaf.  



Do you see how the leaves come off?





If you want to find out if you can eat a plant, the first place to start is to learn all the poisonous and toxic plants in your area.  These are your hazards.  It will be the shortest list and once you have learned them you will know, when you are approaching a new plant that it is not on this list.

The next thing is to learn your plant families.   This is another short list.   Once you know your families, you can identify what family the plant belongs to.   Some families have highly toxic members.  For example, in our region there are members of the parsley family that are poisonous and can cause death just from someone putting the plant in their mouth, not even eating it.  Some plants can cause a rash just from touching them or getting the sap on your skin.    

Other families do not have any poisonous members.   For example, the mustard family is safe to eat even though it might not always taste very good.  

Nettles have their own family and one of the genera is Laportea with alternate leaves, such as Laportea canadensis which grows in my area and is an excellent fiber plant and good spring shoot. Nettles are in the Urticales or nettle order which includes nettles, hemp, hops, elm, and hackberry—mostly characterized by non-showy flowers, rugged leaves, and strong bast fibers.

I agree with the rest though.

That plant is huge.  Definitely not a nettle.

I like the suggestion for learning the names of all plants on the property and learning if they are edible or medicinal.

I do not know what part of the world you are in though that plant looks tropical.  Maybe asking the locals what the plants are will help because the local probably already know.

Maieshe Ljin wrote:
Nettles have their own family and one of the genera is Laportea with alternate leaves, such as Laportea canadensis which grows in my area and is an excellent fiber plant and good spring shoot. Nettles are in the Urticales or nettle order which includes nettles, hemp, hops, elm, and hackberry—mostly characterized by non-showy flowers, rugged leaves, and strong bast fibers.

I agree with the rest though.

Hello Maieshe!

Good to know!!
Thank you so much!

M Ljin wrote:Plants for a Future calls Urera baccifera, of which one of the common names is “nettle tree”, toxic when ingested so I would not take it if I were you. As an herbalist of sorts I eat all sorts of toxic things but it’s good to know how toxic first. It does not sound like something good to eat for food, though.

Maybe we will figure out that the plant is something different? It would be interesting to see what the flowers look like later in the year!

I think it's urera baccifera. I found this in The book: trees with edible leaves

Urtigão , Cow-Itch (Urera baccifera)  This “nettle tree” produces a very painful sting when touched. The sting is much more powerful than that of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and lasts for several days. The cooked leaves are a popular vegetable in Brazil, where it is cultivated by some gardeners as a food crop. Family: Urticaceae Names: English: cow-itch, Caesar weed. French: feuilles enragées, mamon guêpes. Portuguese: urtigão, urtiga-roxa, ortiga brava, ortiga grande, ortiga colorado. Spanish: cadillo, chichicaste, pringamoza. Form: Shrubs to 6m tall. Origin: tropical Americas Climate and Soils: Lowland humid tropics, but also growing to 1500m or higher when planted. Sun to part shade. Vegetable and Other Uses. The thoroughly cooked leaves are a delicious vegetable. The small, sweet white fruits are also eaten. Grown as a minor fiber crop as well. This species has many medicinal uses. Nutrition. Information unavailable. Growing Tips. Be careful of the stinging hairs! Sometimes used as a living fence. Coppices very well. Both male and female plants are needed for fruit production. Propagation. Grown from live stakes and seed.

Have you tried it yet? How is it?

M Ljin wrote:Have you tried it yet? How is it?

Yes , it was awesome. I think now is My favorite green leave plant.
Flavor is complex .
First i cut a little piece and ate it raw. And nothing happened in My mouth. i didnt feel nothing wrong with me. Then i cooked 2 leaves. Not SO Big, not SO small.  From time to time i use to take one leave from The boiling pot to try of it still hurts but Its urticating and irritating power was reduced as the leaf was cooked.
I ate one very cooked and The other one not SO much.
I liked a Lot The "not SO much cooked " one .

I like a Lot this plant. Here in The jungle is everywhere and it's a really tasty ans nutritious plant. I'm happy Ive discovered this plant.


Thank You




Also The leaves are  wierd , like a small city or Maybe a mozaic space that can be Taken for inspiración for plant distribution?

Ronaldo Montoya wrote:
Yes , it was awesome. I think now is My favorite green leave plant.
Flavor is complex .
First i cut a little piece and ate it raw. And nothing happened in My mouth. i didnt feel nothing wrong with me. Then i cooked 2 leaves. Not SO Big, not SO small.  From time to time i use to take one leave from The boiling pot to try of it still hurts but Its urticating and irritating power was reduced as the leaf was cooked.
I ate one very cooked and The other one not SO much.
I liked a Lot The "not SO much cooked " one .

I like a Lot this plant. Here in The jungle is everywhere and it's a really tasty ans nutritious plant. I'm happy Ive discovered this plant.


Thank You

That sounds like nettle!

I typically cook my stinging nettle by boiling between the time it’s soft enough to cut through with my spatula, up to the point where it falls apart. I eat the whole thing as soup and it’s very good. But I agree that greens can easily get overcooked and I don’t tend to like them as leftovers.

Also The leaves are  wierd , like a small city or Maybe a mozaic space that can be Taken for inspiración for plant distribution?

Looks like my garden bed layout!

You'll find it sprouts back very well when you cut it (here people are always horrified when they cut it back and it comes back twice as vigorous).

Tereza Okava wrote:You'll find it sprouts back very well when you cut it (here people are always horrified when they cut it back and it comes back twice as vigorous).

Oh yes. I found a little plant ( one meter tall) and i transplanted to My garden. But then the plant started to die slowly. I try it to make it recover with múltiple strategies but theres nothing i could did. The plant started to died slowly until it died. I was sad . But then one month after i was walking and i found a a little plant growing in The same place. I think only died The plant but The roots were ok. Now i have a new healthy plant.

But i was wondering , if everything in Nature has a purpose' , what should be The purpose' of this mechanism in this plant.  What is The ecological function of The behaivor of it's roots?

I think that I remember reading that the plant regenerates prolifically in logged-over areas. Spiny plants seem to gravitate towards areas disturbed by humans, ruminants, and other animals. They are protectors of the land who come in when the land has been disturbed and needs to be protected from compaction, herbivory, etc.

In my climate these plants include creeping thistles, junipers, blackberries, multiflora rose, nettles, black locust, etc. These plants tend to exclude animals who would trample the soil, and protect young trees from predation as they grow. Typically, temperate nettles only do this to a certain extent and tend to be browsed by deer, but some of the tropical nettles that are more intensely stinging should be more in this category.

Where the soil is rich, such as the preferred habitats of most nettles, they also have the job of sopping up the excess water and nutrients from the soil that is released by disturbance, and fixing them into a form that is usable to the ecosystem. In my climate deer love nettles, and so do humans.

By stream banks in my climate, large swaths of wood nettle (a temperate relative that looks very similar) can be found growing in the sandy soil deposited by floods. They likely also have the job of filtering and cleaning the waters of mountain brooks. Wood nettles also gravitate to logging roads, where major disturbance has occurred and oftentimes the water pools in rivulets. It sounds as if Urera baccifera might be less dependent on moisture and nutrition and more tolerant of sun and disturbance than wood nettles however. Here, stinging nettles are more likely to sop up excess nutrition such as in cow pastures, at the edges of fields, or in logged areas.

Interestingly, using the Doctrine of Signatures we could guess that since nettles filter the soil “out there”, they also help to filter and purify the body “in here”. And indeed they are considered a blood purifying herb. (https://www.elmundoforestal.com/portfolio/ortiga-brava/) The juice of nettles including U. baccifera are used to stop bleeding and heal wounds, as they heal the wounding of the soil out in the forest. Nettles are also highly nutritious to eat, and I have read that they can improve the soil where they grow. There are probably plenty more connections but it seems like the ecological, edible, and medicinal aspects of Urera baccifera and Urtica dioica are much overlapping.