About Dendrocnide photiniphylla (Kunth) Chew
Dendrocnide photiniphylla (Kunth) Chew is a medium to large tree that reaches up to 30 m (98 ft) in height, with a maximum stem diameter of 75 cm (30 in). Its trunk is either flanged or buttressed. The fairly smooth grey bark features some bumps, lines and ridges. Small branches are smooth and grey, with green colouring at their ends. Leaves are elliptic in shape, 6 to 13 cm (2.4 to 5.1 in) long, and 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.1 in) wide; they are glossy and bear erect stinging hairs, particularly concentrated along the leaf veins. Male and female flowers sometimes grow on separate individual trees. They are yellowish green, and appear from November to June on small panicles growing from leaf axils. The fruit is made up of unevenly shaped nuts or achenes, and forms a mass that resembles white grubs. Fruit matures between January and March. The fruit would be edible to humans if it did not have stinging hairs, and it is eaten by many rainforest bird species, including the regent bowerbird and the Torresian crow. Indigenous Australians used fibres from this tree to make nets and bags.
