Kingdom Plantae Family Urticaceae Rank Species | Order Rosales Genus Girardinia | |
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Similar Girardinia, Girardinia suborbiculata, Laportea, Dendrocnide, Elatostema | ||
Girardinia diversifolia, commonly known as the Himalayan nettle or Nilghiri nettle, is found abundantly in open forest land, river sides, and moist habitat in Nepal and in Himalayan parts of India such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and J&K. It grows naturally at elevations between 1,200 to 3,000 metres (3,900 to 9,800 feet). It is a shade tolerant, tall, stout and erect herb growing up to 3m height with perennial rootstock. The plant grows as a clump, and each clump has many stem. The stem contains bast fiber of unique quality which is strong, smooth and light.
Contents
Allo is a 1.5 to 3 metres tall perennial herbaceous shrub that grows without cultivation all over Nepal. It most frequently occurs in the hilly and mountainous regions at altitudes up to 3000 m.
Vernacular names
The plant is locally known as:
Uses
Traditional users of Allo are ethnic groups from across Nepal, including the Gurung, Magar, Rai and Tamang people. Allo products are culturally important to both the Gurung and the Rai. It is also sold for commercial and non-religious purposes. Non-fibre uses of the plant range from fodder and fuel wood, to use as a live fence and in traditional medicines. Allo fibre is very flexible and has high tenacity, allowing it to be used in a multitude of applications ranging from clothing and bags to floor mats and rope. Fibres made from allo are fully biodegradable.
