Pouzolzia zeylanica (L.) Benn.

Urticaceae

Bennet, J.J. (1838) Plantae Javanicae Rariores 1 : 67.

Graceful Pouzolzbush; Pouzolzbush, Graceful

Usually flowers and fruits as a herb but occasionally grows into a shrub about 1 m tall.

Leaf blades about 7.5-9.5 x 3-4.5 cm, petioles about 0.5-4.5 cm long. Stipules about 3-5 mm long, clothed in long white hairs.

Flowers sessile, minute, less than 1 mm diam. Tepals about 0.9 x 1 mm. Anthers reniform, about 0.9 x 0.6 mm, reflexed in the bud. Filaments about 1-2 mm long.

Fruits enclosed in the persistent, hairy perianth. Fruits pyriform, about 2.5 x 2 mm. Seeds about 2 x 1.8 mm, testa thin and glabrous. Cotyledons about 1 x 1.5 mm, broader than long, slightly cordate at the base. Radicle straight and thick, about 0.6 x 0.5 mm.

Cotyledons orbicular, about 7-8 mm diam. First pair of leaves opposite, leaf blades ovate, upper surface clothed in numerous 'glandular' humps and long, pale hairs. Stipules hairy. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade clothed in numerous 'glandular' humps on the upper surface and also strigose with a sparse covering of pale, broad-based hairs. Midrib and lateral veins depressed on the upper surface. Leaf blade 3-veined at the base. Seed germination time 244 days.

Occurs in WA, NT, CYP, NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 550 m. Grows in rain forest and monsoon forest. Also occurs in Asia and Malesia.

This species may have medicinal properties.

This species has been used medicinally in Malaysia and Indonesia. Cribb (1981).

Pouzolzia indica var. alienata (L.) Wedd., Archives du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle 9 : 399(1856). Parietaria zeylanica L., Species Plantarum : 1052(1753), Type: Ceylon, P. Hermann; holo: BM. Pouzolzia arnhemica F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 4: 87(1864), Type: Northern Territory, Victoria River, F. Mueller & Wilson; holo: ?. Parietaria indica L., Mant. Pl. 1: 128(1767), Type: Asia, collector unknown. Pouzolzia indica (L.) Wight, Icones Plantarum Indiae Orientales 6 : 43(1853).