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Brundage, Stephanie

Boehmeria cylindrica

Boehmeria cylindrica (L.) Sw.

Smallspike False Nettle, Bog Hemp

Urticaceae (Nettle Family)

Synonym(s): Boehmeria austrina, Boehmeria cylindrica var. drummondiana, Boehmeria cylindrica var. scabra, Boehmeria decurrens, Boehmeria drummondiana, Boehmeria scabra, Urtica cylindrica

USDA Symbol: BOCY

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), CAN (N)

Tiny greenish flowers are in small, head-like clusters, arranged in continuous or interrupted spikes in the axils of opposite leaves. Plant lacks stinging hairs.

This species differs from Clearweed (Pilea pumila), the other member of the Nettle Family lacking stinging hairs, in that it does not have a translucent stem and is taller.

From the Image Gallery

6 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NB , QC
Native Distribution: Ontario to Quebec, south to Florida, west to Texas, north to Minnesota.
Native Habitat: Moist or shady ground.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Benefit

Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Eastern Comma, Red Admiral

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Eastern Comma
(Polygonia comma)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Red Admiral
(Vanessa atalanta)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW		OBL	OBL	FACW	FACW		OBL	OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Boehmeria cylindrica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Boehmeria cylindrica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Boehmeria cylindrica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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