Dendrocnide excelsa — Giant Stinging Tree—URTICACEAE.
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Habitat—In warmer rainforest on the coast and ranges. Distribution— North from Bega,New South Wales (common in disturbed areas where it establishes very quickly; also as a smaller tree in drier rainforest in gullies in Hunter Valley and Liverpool Ranges) and Queensland. Description—Tree to 40 m with fluted trunks; stinging hairs cause an intense persistent sting. Local occurrences— Barrington/Gloucester Tops,
Boorganna Nature Reserve,
Coocumbac Island,
Copeland and
Wingham Brush.
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Leaves.— Simple, alternate with stinging hairs. Lamina broad—ovate, usually 10 to 25 cm long, 7 to 20 cm wide, deeply cordate at base often with the two lobes overlapping, margins regularly toothed to almost entire on exposed leaves, usually covered with stinging hairs, especially the larger juvenile leaves; petiole mostly 5 to 15 cm long. |
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Inflorescence— Unisexual, panicles to 12 cm long. Flowering.—Summer. |
Fruit—Achene c. 2 mm long, warty, pedicel to 5 mm long and very fleshy, whitish, pink to purplish. Ripe.—Autumn. |
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