Obetia tenax (N.E. Br.) Friis

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Maleme Dam camp

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ascending the Hill Complex by the Ancient Path, Great Zimbabwe

Photo: Mark Hyde
Top of Hill Complex, Great Zimbabwe

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Urera tenax N.E. Br.
Common names:	Rock tree-nettle (English) Tree nettle (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Soft-wooded shrub or small deciduous tree. Bark bronze to pinkish-brown, smooth, watery latex present; branches often covered in stinging hairs. Leaves alternate, ovate to almost round, 5-15 cm long, slightly fleshy, 3-veined from the base with stinging hairs on both surfaces; apex often pointed, cordate at the base; margin coarsely and unevenly toothed. Flowers in short axillary clusters, whitish to yellowish-green, covered in stinging hairs, unisexual, normally on different plants.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	tenax: tenacious, strong
Habitat:	On rocky outcrops and hillsides, often in hot and dry places.
Flowering time:	Aug - Sep
Worldwide distribution:	Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa as far as KwaZulu-Natal.
Botswana distribution:	SE
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Acraea burni (Larval foodplant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 95. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 26. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 155. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 116. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 234. As Urera tenax Friis, I. (1991). Urticaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(6) Pages 84 - 85. (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. Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 86 - 89. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 109. Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 182 - 183. (Includes a picture). Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 246 - 247. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Obetia tenax:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Obetia tenax
Flora of Zimbabwe: Obetia tenax

External websites:

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