West Indian-nettle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• West Indian-nettle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Laportea glandulosa
• Fleuryopsis petiolata
• Urtica schimperiana
• Fleurya aestuans var. petiolata
• Fleurya racemosa
• Fleurya perrieri
• Fleurya petiolata
• Fleurya lurida
• Fleurya ingrata
• Fleurya glandulosa
• Fleurya aestuans var. racemosa
• Fleurya aestuans var. tuberculata
• Fleurya caravellana
• Fleurya cordata
• Fleurya corylifolia
• Laportea bathiei
• Fleurya aestuans
• Fleurya aestuans var. glandulosa
• Fleurya cymosa
• Urtica caravellana
• Urtica hirsuta
• Urtica nemorosa
• Urtica latifolia
• Urtica cymosa
• Urtica corylifolia
• Urtica divergens
• Urtica aestuans

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Rosales and categorized under the family Urticaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Laportea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents and climate zones. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of France. The species also extends to the Macaronesian region, where it can be found in Cape Verde. Furthermore, it is widely distributed throughout West Tropical Africa. Within this African region, its range includes the nations of Benin, Burkina, and Gambia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Laportea aestuans is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and a preference for diverse tropical forest ecosystems. This species thrives across a wide elevational gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum height of 1480 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 275 m AMSL. Its primary habitats encompass various distinct biomes, including the Cerrado (latu sensu), Terra Firme forests, and Ombrophilous forests (also known as Pluvial forests), indicating its ability to adapt to both seasonally dry and perennially humid environments.

Elevational range max:

1480 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

275 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Laportea aestuans is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. Structurally, this plant functions as a therophyte, a life form defined by its tendency to survive unfavorable seasons as ephemeral seeds rather than maintaining perennial above-ground structures. As a therophyte, it avoids environmental stressors by completing its reproductive cycle rapidly and then dying back, leaving only its seeds to await more favorable conditions for the next generation.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Laportea aestuans is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. The plant is a self-supporting organism, lacking the climbing habits of vines or lianas, and it functions as an independent species without parasitic behavior. It is a terrestrial plant, neither aquatic nor epiphytic in its natural state. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a variable height, with individuals typically ranging from a minimum of approximately 0.30 m to a maximum of 1.52 m, maintaining an average height of about 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.524018532 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.304803706 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Laportea aestuans is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. In terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Laportea aestuans has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CaCO3.

CaCO3

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Laportea aestuans has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bone diseases, diabetes mellitus, heartburn, osteoporosis.

Bone diseases

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Diabetes mellitus

1. Current diabetes reviews

Heartburn

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Osteoporosis

1. Pharmaceutical biology