Girardiana diversifolia
Himalayan Nettle
a perennial member of the Girardiana genus in the family Urticaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Urticaceae
- Genus
- Girardiana
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
This plant has very virulent stinging hairs[6].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves and inflorescences - cooked as a green vegetable[2][5]. Care should be exercised when harvesting the leaves because they have stinging hairs. However, these hairs are neutralized by heat and so the cooked leaves are perfectly safe to eat[3].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A decoction of the roots and basal stems is mixed with wine and drunk as a cure for malignant boils[3]. A decoction of the roots, mixed with Centella asiatica, is used to treat gastric troubles[5]. The juice of the root is used to treat constipation[5]. The fresh juice of the leaves is applied externally in the treatment of headaches and swollen joints[4][5]. A decoction of the plant is used to treat fevers[4]. The ashes of the plant are applied externally in the treatment of ringworm and eczema[5].
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Miscellany
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A fibre is obtained from the stem. It is fine and silky and is used for making coarse cloth, ropes and twine[7][9][1][5]. Yields of fibre are around 600kg per hectare[3].
- Product or use
- Fibre
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - India to Malaysia.
- Habitat
- Waste ground and shrubberies, 800 - 2700 metres in the Himalayas[8]. Moist, shady, forested areas at elevations of 1200 - 3000 metres in Nepal[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in May. If you have sufficient seed it might be worthwhile trying a sowing outdoors in situ in the middle of spring. Division of roots[5].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it can be grown outdoors in Britain. However, since it is an annual there is a good chance of success especially if the plants are started early in a greenhouse.
References
Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202