False Nettle, Small-Spiked False, Nettle Bog Hemp

Boehmeria cylindrica

boh-MEER-ee-uh  sil-IN-dree-kuh

Synonyms of Boehmeria cylindrica (38) (Updated on 12-30-23 from Plants of the World Online): Boehmeria atrovirens Gand. (1919 publ. 1920), Boehmeria austrina Small (1903), Boehmeria cylindrica var. brachystachys Wedd. (1856), Boehmeria cylindrica f. cuneata F.Seym. (1969), Boehmeria cylindrica var. drummondiana (Wedd.) Wedd. (1869), Boehmeria cylindrica var. elatior Wedd. (1856), Boehmeria cylindrica var. genuina Wedd. (1856)(not validly publ.), Boehmeria cylindrica subvar. gymnostachya Wedd. (1856), Boehmeria cylindrica var. littoralis (Sw.) Wedd. (1869), Boehmeria cylindrica subvar. phyllostachya (Miq.) Wedd. (1856), Boehmeria cylindrica var. phyllostachya (Miq.) Wedd. (1856), Boehmeria cylindrica var. scabra Porter (1889), Boehmeria cylindrica var. tenerrima Blume (1857), Boehmeria cylindrica subvar. tomentosa Wedd. (1856), Boehmeria dasypoda Miq. (1853), Boehmeria decurrens Small (1903), Boehmeria drummondiana Wedd. (1854), Boehmeria elongata Blume (1857)(nom. illeg.), Boehmeria florida Miq. (1853), Boehmeria lateriflora Muhl. ex Willd. (1805), Boehmeria littoralis Sw. (1788), Boehmeria longifolia Gand. (1919 publ. 1920), Boehmeria phyllostachya Miq. (1853), Boehmeria phyllostachya f. glabrior Miq. (1853), Boehmeria scabra (Porter) Small (1903), Duretia cylindrica Gaudich. (1830), Duretia palustris Gaudich. (1830), Procris lateriflora Poir. (1816), Procris littoralis Poir. (1804), Ramium cylindricum Kuntze (1891), Ramium elongatum Kuntze (1891), Urtica capitata L. (1753), Urtica capitata Schwein. ex Blume (1857)(not validly publ.), Urtica cylindrica L. (1753), Urtica distachya Spreng. (1826), Urtica filiformis Walter (1788), Urtica mariana Mill. (1768), Urtica palustris Juss. ex Pers. (1807)

Boehmeria cylindrica (L.) Sw. is the accepted scientific name for this species of Boehmeria. It was named and described as such by Olof Peter Swartz in Nova Genera & Species Plantarum in 1788. It was first named and described as Urtica cylindrica by Carl von Linnaeus in the second edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

The genus, Boehmeria Jacq., was named and described by Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin in Enumeratio Systematica Plantarum in 1760.

As of 12-30-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 52 species in the Boehmeria genus. It is a member of the plant family Urticaceae with 59 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

The Boehmeria cylindrica is native to much of North and South America. The above map from Plants of the World Online shows where it is native in green and purple is where it is introduced. The map on the USDA Plants Database for the United States and Canada is the same except it also includes California.

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations throughout the world. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations. 

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND BETTER POSITIVE  ID.

Boehmeria cylindrica is a perennial wildflower that is found throughout most of Missouri and its native range in most of North America down into South America. As I started getting more into wildflower ID on the farm, I noticed a very large colony in a shady area along the east side of the back pond. I know I have seen them multiple times here and there, but before 2019 I hadn’t paid much attention to them. Probably the most distinctive feature is their weird flowers that seem to ooze out of the stems.

Plants prefer a fairly shady location in fairly moist soil. They can be found growing in a variety of woodland habitats, bottomland forests, along shady streambanks, swampy areas, etc. in rich loamy soil. If in too much sun, the leaves will turn yellow…

The plants can grow to 3-4’ in height in ideal conditions. They are multi-branched, seemingly going out in all directions. The stems are light green, kind of square, and can be glabrous (hairless) to slightly pubescent (hairy). The hairs are non-stinging…

The leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stems, but some may grow alternately, from long petioles. The leaves are said to be lanceolate to elliptic, broadly elliptic, ovate, or broadly ovate, asymmetrically angled to rounded at the base, with narrow pointed tips. The margins have prominent teeth. The leaves are usually hairless, or they should be slightly hairy. They have prominent central veins as well as 2 prominent lateral veins that come from the base where the leaf attaches to the petiole (leaf stem). The other secondary veins are not as prominent. 

The leaf undersides are a lighter color, kind of chalky looking, because of the fine hair (pubescent).

Boehmeria cylindrica produces odd spikes of clusters of flowers from the axils of upper leaves.

The flowers… Well, there is a little confusion about whether these plants are monoecious (separate male and female flowers on the same plant) or dioecious (male and female flowers on different plants). Descriptions that say they are monoecious say they are “rarely” dioecious but not necessarily improbable. Descriptions that say they are dioecious, say rarely monoecious. Oddly, both statements are true as they can be either one or both…

Staminate (male flowers) have 4 sepals (or calyces) that are cupped around 4 stamens. The pistillate (female flowers) have 4 sepals (calyces) that are fused and have 2-to 4 teeth (kind of like a short tubular flower with lobes that have been flattened…) that enclose are fused to the ovary and fruit. The female’s flowers have an exerted style… Neither type of flower has petals and the flowers are VERY small. 

The flowers have no scent and are pollinated by the wind since they are rarely visited by insects. 

The above photo “borrowed” from Missouri Plants shows both male and female flowers among the same cluster… Missouri Plants is one of my favorite wildflower sites for plant identification. I will try to take better close-ups so I can use my own photo… The flowers are very small, so that might be somewhat difficult. 

The seed, called achenes, remains enclosed in the calyx and has a pair of thick wings.

Since this nettle is stingless, they are visited by deer and cattle on occasion. Several caterpillars species feed on Boehmeria cylindrica.

The Boehmeria cylindrica was still at it behind the back pond in the summer of 2021.

I really would like to take more photos of this species but I haven’t noticed this species for a while, likely because I wasn’t looking for them. Sometimes I am on a mission, and I guess they weren’t on my mind. I especially haven’t noticed a massive colony like in 2021. Sometimes I get fairly busy and don’t have time to do as much wildflower hunting as I would like. The summer of 2023 was very hot and dry, so most of the wildflowers that usually grow on the farm were fizzled out by midsummer. The habitat around the pond(s) in the back of the farm has changed a lot in recent years. There are two ponds next to each other, and one usually dries up (where this species normally grows).

Hopefully, 2024 will be better and we won’t have another drought.

I live on the family farm in Windsor, Missouri where I enjoy gardening, collecting plants, and identifying wildflowers. The farm is in Pettis County but Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away. I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be somewhat variable from location to location, so sometimes it gets a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
GO BOTANY
NEW YORK FLORA ATLAS
ALABAMA PLANT ATLAS
FLORA FINDER

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and can be hard to keep with. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂