''Hesperocnide sandwicensis'', the Hawai'i stingingnettle, is a rare species of
nettle
Nettle refers to plants with stinging hairs, particularly those of the genus '' Urtica''. It can also refer to plants which resemble ''Urtica'' species in appearance but do not have stinging hairs. Plants called "nettle" include:
* ball nettle ...
endemic to the
island of Hawai'i. Less than 1000 plants from only 3 occurrences are estimated to exist due to grazing pressure from invasive sheep, goats, and pigs.
The closest relative of ''H. sandwicensis'', and the only other species in the genus ''Hesperocnide'', is the California endemic ''
Hesperocnide tenella''.
Description
''Hesperocnide sandwicensis'' is an annual nettle, growing 20-60cm tall. Leaves and stems are covered in small hairs, with leaves growing 1.5-7cm in length. Unlike other Hawaiian nettles which lost their ability to sting due to a lack of large herbivores, ''H. sandwicensis'' has retained this ability and its hairs can provide a painful sting if touched.
Distribution and habitat
''Hesperocnide sandwicensis'' grows only in the understory of
subalpine dry forests on the volcanic slopes of
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea (, ; abbreviation for ''Mauna a Wākea''); is a dormant Shield volcano, shield volcano on the Hawaii (island), island of Hawaii. Its peak is above sea level, making it the List of U.S. states by elevation, highest point in Hawaii a ...
,
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa (, ; ) is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. Mauna Loa is Earth's largest active volcano by both mass and volume. It was historically considered to be the largest ...
, and
Hualālai on the big island of Hawai'i.
References
Endemic flora of Hawaii
Plants described in 1869
Taxa named by Hugh Algernon Weddell
Urticaceae
{{Urticaceae-stub