Urtica ferox
| Urtica ferox | |
|---|---|
| File:Ongaonga close-up.jpg | |
| Urtica ferox leaves and spines | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Urticaceae |
| Genus: | Urtica |
| Species: | U. ferox |
| Binomial name | |
| Urtica ferox | |
Urtica ferox, commonly known as Ongaonga, is a nettle that is endemic to New Zealand. Sometimes known as the 'tree nettle', ongaonga has woody stems and unusually large stinging spines, and can grow 5 metres tall. Even the lightest touch can result in a painful sting that lasts several days.
In Maori folklore, Kupe was said to have placed several obstacles to hinder pursuers whose wives he had stolen, one of which was the ongaonga.
Ongaonga is the main food plant for larvae of the New Zealand red admiral butterfly or Kahukura, Bassaris gonerilla.
There has been one recorded human death from contact—a lightly clad hunter who died five hours after walking through a dense patch.[1]
See also
References
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<references />, or <references group="..." />Further reading
- Connor, H. E. (1977) [1952]. Poisonous Plants in New Zealand (DSIR Research Bulletin 99) (2nd edition ed.). Wellington: Government Printer. ISBN 0-477-01007. line feed character in
|id=at position 53 (help) - Crowe, Andrew (1999-09-07). Which Native Forest Plant?. New Zealand: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-028631-4.
- Hutching, Gerald (1998). New Zealand: Viking (Penguin). ISBN 0-670-87782-4. Missing or empty
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es:Urtica ferox fr:Ongaonga mk:Онгаонга nn:Urtica ferox ro:Ongaonga
ru:Онгаонга
