ramie

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Boehmeria nivea f. concolor
• Boehmeria nivea subsp. nipononivea
• Boehmeria tenacissima
• Boehmeria frutescens var. concolor
• Boehmeria frutescens var. viridula
• Boehmeria nivea var. candicans
• Urtica tenacissima
• Urtica millettii
• Urtica nivea
• Urtica utilis
• Boehmeria nipononivea
• Boehmeria nivea var. reticulata
• Boehmeria nipononivea var. concolor
• Boehmeria nivea var. concolor
• Boehmeria nivea f. nipononivea
• Boehmeria nivea var. nipononivea
• Boehmeria nivea var. tenacissima
• Boehmeria nivea var. viridula
• Boehmeria mollicoma
• Boehmeria thailandica
• Boehmeria utilis
• Boehmeria candicans
• Boehmeria compacta
• Ramium mollicoma
• Ramium niveum
• Ramium compactum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales, it is classified under the family Urticaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Boehmeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Boehmeria nivea, exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within West-Central Tropical Africa. Its presence is documented across several key regions, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. Furthermore, the species can be found within the borders of Gabon and the island territories of the Gulf of Guinea. The distribution also extends eastward to include the nation of Rwanda. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's establishment within the tropical ecosystems of the African continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Boehmeria nivea is defined by a broad altitudinal distribution that allows it to inhabit diverse topographical landscapes. It thrives across a significant elevational range, spanning from sea level up to a maximum altitude of 1700 m AMSL. Within this vertical gradient, the species maintains a mean elevational presence of approximately 950 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-elevation environments while remaining adaptable to both low-lying coastal or riverine areas and higher montane terrains.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Boehmeria nivea is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategies, it exhibits a dual classification of life forms, functioning as both a phanerophyte, where its buds are elevated on woody stems above the ground, and a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its ability to maintain relatively low-growing, shrubby architectures. This combination of traits enables the species to establish stable, long-term presence in its natural habitat while maintaining the flexibility to adapt its height and vegetative structure to varying environmental conditions.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Boehmeria nivea is characterized by a shrub-like growth form that exhibits woody characteristics. This species typically presents as a self-supporting plant, rather than a liana or vine, and functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 1.5 m, with a mean height of 1.4 m, and can be found growing as small as 0.5 m. It is a terrestrial species, meaning it does not inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic environments, nor does it function as an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.4 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Boehmeria nivea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic approach to carbon fixation and energy production. Morphologically, the plant exhibits significant variation in its foliar dimensions, with leaf lengths typically averaging 10.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 15 cm. The leaf width displays a similar range of variability, with a mean width of 0.75 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 0.4 cm and a maximum of 1.1 cm. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

1.1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.75 cm

Leaf width min:

0.4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Boehmeria nivea is characterized by a specific flowering season that typically commences in June and concludes in September. During this period, the plant produces inflorescences that vary in length, ranging from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.09 m. The resulting fruits are remarkably consistent in size, maintaining a uniform length of 0.6 cm, with the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements all recorded at this value. Following fertilization, the plant produces seeds that are exceptionally fine; the seed mass is highly consistent, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all measured at 4e-05 g.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.09 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Seed mass mean:

4e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Boehmeria nivea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Boehmeria nivea has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cellulose, ARSENIC, Ash, BARIUM, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

cellulose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BARIUM

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

BROMINE

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

CHROMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Boehmeria nivea has 359 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Laxative, ACE-Inhibitor, AGEs-Inhibitor.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

Laxative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AGEs-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Acnegenic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Boehmeria nivea has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiabetic, antioxidant, cancer, constipation, neurodegenerative diseases.

Antidiabetic

1. Food science & nutrition

Antioxidant

1. Food science & nutrition

Cancer

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Constipation

1. Food science & nutrition

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Oxidative stress

1. Food science & nutrition

Snakebite

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Boehmeria nivea has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include water and ethanol extracts.

Water and ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology