Urtica sykesii, commonly known as native nettle and bush nettle, is a species of nettle native to Australia and New Zealand. A member of the Urticaceae, this species is typically found growing on moist soils between rocks. In Australia, the species is restricted to Victoria. In New Zealand, it is found in the North and South Islands. It grows in an erect manner. It was first described in a 2016 study as Urtica sykesii. Its specific epithet, sykesii, is named in honour of a New Zealand botanist.
Urtica sykesii is a monoecious species of perennial herb reaching in height. It grows in an erect manner. The stinging hairs or trichomes on the stems are 0.2âÂÂ0.3 mm long. The petioles are 30âÂÂ70 mm. Leaves are 20âÂÂ60 à20âÂÂ50 mm long. The margins are regularly dentated. Flowering occurs year-round, the inflorescences (flower clusters) the plant produces are 10âÂÂ20 mm long. The fruits are rounded and 1.3âÂÂ1.5 mm long.
Urtica sykesii was first described in a 2016 study published in Phytotaxa. U. sykesii was previously confused with U. incisa. There are sixty-nine species of the Urtica genus currently accepted by the Plants of the World Online taxonomic database. These species are found throughout the entire world. U. sykesii is closely related to other New Zealand members of the genus Urtica except U. ferox. GrosseâÂÂVeldmann et al. (2016) constructed a phylogenetic tree of the genus Urtica based on gender characteristics and genetic sequencing.
The etymology (word origin) of U. sykesiis genus name, Urtica, is derived from the Latin word for stinging nettles, which comes from , meaning to burn. The specific epithet (second part of the scientific name), sykesii, is named named in honour of the New Zealand botanist William Russell Sykes. The species is commonly known as 'native nettle' and 'bush nettle.
Urtica sykesii is native to Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, the species is restricted to Victoria. In New Zealand, it is found in the North and South Islands. The 2023 assessment of U. sykesii in the New Zealand Threat Classification System was "Not Threatened".
Urtica sykesii is typically found growing on moist soils between rocks between above sea level.
All Urtica species are pollinated by the wind.
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