Boehmeria spicata — identification & habitat

Boehmeria spicata is an East Asian plant found at forest edges, with lower stems that become woody even though it looks like an herb. Its reddish stems and paired, diamond-shaped leaves with long, pointed tips help identify it.

Appearance

Growth form: The lower stems become woody, even though the plant may look like an herb. It reaches about 1.5–3 ft (0.5–1 m).
Leaves: Pairs of diamond-shaped leaves have coarse teeth and one long point at the tip.
Flowers: Small flowers gather on slim spikes growing from the leaf joints.

Look-alikes

false-nettleBoehmeria cylindrica

False-nettle usually has oval or lance-shaped leaves. B. spicata has more diamond-shaped leaves with long, pointed tips; check several leaves because their shapes can vary.

Why they get mixed upBoth have paired, toothed leaves and small flowers on spikes.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: East Asian forest edges
Range: Native to China, Korea, and Japan.

Name and classification

About the name: Some botanists group this species with close relatives under the broader name Boehmeria japonica var. tenera.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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