Boehmeria nivea

(Linnaeus) Gaudichaud Beaupré

Voy. Uranie 12: 499. 1830.

Common names: Ramie
Introduced
Basionym: Urtica nivea Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 985. 1753
Synonyms: Ramium niveum (Linnaeus) Small
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Shrubs or subshrubs, 2 (-3) m. Leaves alternate. Leaf-blades broadly ovate to nearly orbiculate, 8-15 × 5-12 cm, abaxial surface densely white-tomentose, adaxial surface slightly scabrous. Inflorescences panicles of moniliform (beaded) clusters, branches not leafy at apex; staminate flowers in proximal leaf-axils, pistillate flowers in distil axils. Achenes compressed or lenticular, ovoid or ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 × ca. 0.9 mm, pubescent with straight or slightly curved hairs, uniformly smooth; seeds not conspicuous in outline, corky tissue absent.


Phenology: Flowering late summer–fall.
Habitat: Roadsides, waste places, vacant lots, cultivated fields, along Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains
Elevation: 0-200 m

Distribution

V3 453-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., S.C., Tex., Va., Central America, Asia

Discussion

Boehmeria nivea, ramie, is an important source of fiber in Asia and was introduced into the United States in 1855 as a commercial crop. The fibers are exceptionally strong but difficult to extract.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Boehmeria nivea"
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (?) +
ellipsoid +, ovoid +, lenticular +  and compressed +
acuminate +
David E. Boufford +
(Linnaeus) Gaudichaud Beaupré +
cuneate +, rounded +  and cordate +
Urtica nivea +
Ala. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, S.C. +, Tex. +, Va. +, Central America +  and Asia +
0-200 m +
reflexing +  and inflexed +
pistillate +  and staminate +
cluster +, crowded +  and remote +
loosely +  and free +
Roadsides, waste places, vacant lots, cultivated fields, along Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains +
curved +  and straight +
separate +  and paniculate +
8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
broadly ovate +  and nearly orbiculate +
serrate +  and dentate +
rounded +  and linear +
accrescent +
Flowering late summer–fall. +
Voy. Uranie +
not conspicuous +
Introduced +
simple +  and freely branched +
persistent +
elongate +
Ramium niveum +
Boehmeria nivea +
Boehmeria +
species +
reddish +, greenish +, green +  and white +
adnate +  and connate +
hypogynous +
200 cm2,000 mm <br />2 m <br /> (300 cm3,000 mm <br />3 m <br />) +
straight +  and curved +
subshrub +  and shrub +
sparsely +  and more or less densely pubescent or tomentose +