Hairy crabweed (Fatoua villosa, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 41: 516 (1927))

Family: Moraceae

Author: (Thunb.) Nakai

Bibliography: Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 41: 516 (1927)

Year: 1927

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Fatoua

Vegetable: False

Observations: C. & S. Japan to Jawa and N. Australia

Description

Hairy crabweed, known scientifically as Fatoua villosa, is an intriguing member of the Moraceae family. This hardy plant has garnered attention for its resilience and widespread presence across various regions. First documented in 1927 in “Bot. Mag. (Tokyo)” by the botanist Nakai, Hairy crabweed showcases an extensive habitat range, stretching from Central and Southern Japan to Jawa and even Northern Australia.

Fatoua villosa is distinguished by its hairy texture and rapid growth, which can often lead it to be perceived as a weed in both cultivated and natural environments. It typically thrives in a variety of conditions, making it a versatile species that can adapt to different climates and soil types. This adaptability contributes to its widespread distribution across varied geographies.

Hairy crabweed is notable not only for its resilience but also for its biological characteristics. As a member of the Moraceae family, it shares common traits with its relatives, such as its specialized reproductive structures. The plant often exhibits small, inconspicuous flowers that may easily go unnoticed but play a crucial role in the propagation of the species.

Overall, Fatoua villosa stands out within its family due to its unique combination of adaptability, resilience, and biological interest, making it a subject worth studying for botanists and plant enthusiasts alike. Whether encountered in the wilds of Japan, the tropics of Jawa, or the diverse ecosystems of Northern Australia, Hairy crabweed continues to be a plant of notable significance within the grand tapestry of the world’s flora.

Common Names

Eng: hairy crabweed, mulberry-weed, mulberry weed
En: Hairy crabweed, Mulberry-weed, Mulberry weed
Zh: Shui she ma, 小蛇麻, 水蛇麻
Zh-tw: 水蛇麻

Synonyms

• Urtica villosa (Thunb.)
• Fatoua pilosa (Gaudich.)
• Fatoua aspera (Gaudich.)
• Fatoua cordata (Gaudich.)
• Fatoua globulifera (Miq.)
• Fatoua japonica ((Thunb.) Blume)
• Fatoua lanceolata (Decne.)
• Fatoua pilosa subvar. glechomifolia ((Miq.) Bureau)
• Fleurya scabra (Miq.)
• Fatoua scabra (Miq.)
• Fleurya glechomifolia (Miq.)
• Fatoua subcordata (Gaudich.)
• Fleurya globulifera (Miq.)
• Boehmeriopsis pallida (Kom.)
• Fatoua pilosa var. lanceolata (Bureau)
• Fatoua pilosa var. cordata ((Gaudich.) Bureau)
• Fatoua pilosa subvar. globulifera ((Miq.) Bureau)

Distribution

• Bismarck Archipelago (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Japan (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Korea (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Western Australia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Nov 10, 2022 by Courtney Archer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Keith Boyd (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 20, 2022 by Tammy Young (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2021 by David Malan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2021 by David Malan (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Aug 27, 2020 by Jeff Potts (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2019 by Iva (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2021 by Kim Schwichtenberg (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2020 by Chris Griggs (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2022 by tamara haring (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Oct 14, 2020 by Jasper Edwards (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2021 by not the bread (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 20, 2022 by Tina Christina (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Anthony Casalino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 21, 2022 by M. Taylor (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 23, 2020 by M D (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2021 by not the bread (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Jenn Mackert (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 29, 2013 by EOL − Sam Kieschnick (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Dalgial (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 27, 2022 by dd dd (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2021 by not the bread (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2984652)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:583157-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Fatoua villosa (Thunb.) Nakai)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth