Girardinia diversifolia (Link) Friis

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Maleme Dam camp

Photo: Bart Wursten
Maleme Dam camp.

Photo: Rob Burrett
Bushman's Point, Lake Chivero RP

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Synonyms:	Girardinia condensata (Steud.) Wedd. Girardinia heterophylla (Vahl) Decne. Urtica diversifolia Link
Common names:	Stinging nettle (English)
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Erect annual or short-lived perennial herb, up to 1.5-2 m tall. Stems sparsely branched, covered with long stinging hairs. Leaves alternate, vary variable in shape and size, from entire to deeply lobed, often on the same plant, more or less broadly ovate in outline, 10-25 long, hairless except for stinging hairs above, pubescent below with stinging hairs on the veins; margin finely to coarsely toothed. Flowers in spike-like axillary clusters, unisexual, normally on the same plant, rarely on different plants by abortion.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	diversifolia: with diverse or vvariable leaves
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Tropical Africa and northen South Africa. Also in Madagascar, Yemen and from Sri Lanka and India to southern China, Taiwan and Indonesia.
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 280. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 28. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 18. Friis, I. (1991). Urticaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(6) Pages 86 - 88. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 82. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 182.

Other sources of information about Girardinia diversifolia:

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Flora of Malawi: Girardinia diversifolia
Flora of Mozambique: Girardinia diversifolia
Flora of Zambia: Girardinia diversifolia
Flora of Zimbabwe: Girardinia diversifolia

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Girardinia diversifolia
African Plant Database: Girardinia diversifolia
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Girardinia diversifolia
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Girardinia diversifolia
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Girardinia diversifolia
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Girardinia diversifolia
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Girardinia diversifolia
JSTOR Plant Science: Girardinia diversifolia
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Girardinia diversifolia
Plants of the World Online: Girardinia diversifolia
Tropicos: Girardinia diversifolia
Wikipedia: Girardinia diversifolia