Elatostema reticulatum

Elatostema reticulatum, commonly known as rainforest spinach, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae endemic to eastern areas of Queensland and New South Wales.[4][5][6] It is a course straggly herb growing to 50–100 cm (20–39 in) high, and may form dense mats on the forest floor.[4][5][6] It prefers wet shaded areas in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest, and is often found in and beside streams as well as on wet rock faces.[4][5][6] The natural range of the plant is from near Batemans Bay in the south to the ranges and tablelands near Cairns in the north.[4][5][6][7]

Rainforest spinach
Main Range National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Elatostema
Species:
E. reticulatum
Binomial name
Elatostema reticulatum
Synonyms[3]
  • Elatostema reticulatum var. glabrum Domin
  • Elatostema reticulatum var. minus Domin
  • Elatostema reticulatum var. sessile Benth.

This species was first described in 1854 by the English-French botanist Hugh Algernon Weddell, who published his paper in the journal Annales des Sciences Naturelles.[2][6] The specific epithet reticulatum is a reference to the prominent reticulate venation of the leaves.[4]

Joan Cribb suggests the stems and young leaves are edible, and taste better than spinach.[8]

  • Habit
    Habit
  • Flowers
    Flowers
  • Foliage and flowers
    Foliage and flowers

References
  1. "Species profile—Elatostema reticulatum". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  2. "Elatostema reticulatum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  3. "Elatostema reticulatum Wedd". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  4. Chew, W.-L.; Kodela, P.G. (2022). Kodela, P.G. (ed.). "Elatostema reticulatum". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  5. "PlantNET - FloraOnline". PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  6. F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Elatostema reticulatum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  7. "Search: species: Elatostema reticulatum | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  8. Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 381
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