Macrostachya Laportea (Laportea macrostachya)

Family: Urticaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Laportea macrostachya is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweetness. — Young leaves - cooked.; Very nutritious, they have a peculiar sweetness.; Some caution should be observed when harvesting this plant since the raw leaves have stinging hairs.; It is perfectly safe to eat the leaves when they are cooked, however, since heat completely destroys the sting.

Habitat & North American Range

Woods in mountains, N. Japan. Forest margins, thickets, partly shady, moist places, roadsides at elevations of 800 - 2700 metres in China. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)