Mulberry-leaved Stinger
Form and Size: A shrub to 4m high which forms suckering colonies; stems very hairy
Distribution: Rainforests from the Atherton Tablelands, Qld. to Lismore, NSW
Leaves: Broadly egg-shaped to heart-shaped, tip pointed, peltate, dark green to purplish green, very hairy, margins toothed, 6-30cm x 4-20cm
Flowers: Male and female on separate plants; small, borne on short axillary panicles
Flowering Period: April to May
Fruit: A nut, 0.1-0.2cm across, surmounted by a fleshy stalk which is pink to purplish
Distinctive Features: Differs from D. cordata by the peltate leaves
Cultivation/Notes: The most widely distributed of the ‘Stinging Trees’, this species grows rapidly in disturbed areas of forest, and is the cause of many severe stinging attacks. Effects of the stinging may recur over a considerable period of time.
Not recommended for cultivation!!
