Laportea aestuans (L.) Chew

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Casa Banana, Northern boundary Gorongosa National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Inhamitanga Forest Reserve, Marromeu

Photo: Bart Wursten
EO Wilson Biodiversity Centre, Chitengo Camp, Gorongosa National Park.

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Synonyms:	Fleurya aestuans (L.) Gaudich Fleurya aestuans (L.) Gaudich var. linnaeana Wedd. Fleurya perrieri Léandri Laportea bathiei Léandri Urtica aestuans L. Urtica hirsuta Vahl Urtica schimperiana Steud.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect,little branched annual herb up to more than 1 m tall. Most parts covered in stinging hairs. Leaves alternate, more or less broadly ovate, up to 15 cm long, often somewhat discolorous, green above, paler greyish green beneath with stinging hairs on both surfaces; base rounded to cordate; margin serrate with 30-40 teeth on each side; petiole up to 15 cm long, covered with soft glandular hairs and a few stinging hairs. Stipules linear lanceolate, up to 1 cm long, fused for about half their length. Inflorescences axillary, paniculate with flowers unisexual in the same inflorescences; male flowers, pedicellate, mostly at the base of the inflorescence; female flowers densely clustered. Fruit ovoid, laterally compressed achenes, 1-2 mm long, with circular and rugose markings on the sides.
Notes:	An unpleasantly stinging plant.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In forest, usually as a weed along roadsides and in disturbed places. Also in cultivated areas.
Altitude range:	Up to 1000 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Pantropical.
Malawi distribution:	N,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 7 September 2017
Literature:	Friis, I. (1991). Urticaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(6) Pages 90 - 93. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 82. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 101.

Other sources of information about Laportea aestuans:

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Flora of Mozambique: Laportea aestuans
Flora of Zambia: Laportea aestuans
Flora of Zimbabwe: Laportea aestuans

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Laportea aestuans
African Plant Database: Laportea aestuans
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Laportea aestuans
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Laportea aestuans
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Laportea aestuans
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Laportea aestuans
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Laportea aestuans
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Laportea aestuans
iNaturalist: Laportea aestuans
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Laportea aestuans
JSTOR Plant Science: Laportea aestuans
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Laportea aestuans
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Laportea aestuans
Plants of the World Online: Laportea aestuans
Tropicos: Laportea aestuans
Wikipedia: Laportea aestuans