Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Outdoor Recreation

HAWAIIAN STINGING NETTLE

Hesperocnide sandwicensis,
Endemic

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This Hesperocnide nettle is an unusual element to this forest. While most of Hawai‘i’s nettle-relatives (Urticaceae) have lost their stinging nettles (like māmaki), this high-elevation species still maintains it’s stinging heritage. This plant grows annually during and after the winter rains, then during the warm months of Spring. Then after a few months, the plant dies back with no trace it was every here.