This is a widespread eastern perennial on wet fertile soils; 2n = 28 (FNA 3). More pubescent plants treated by F as var. drummondiana (Weddell) Weddell have generally not been distinguished in Ky., and may just be a sun-grown form (Cr.). Further south, at least on the Coastal Plain, plants appear to have distinctly narrow leaves, but no segregates are generally recognized (W). Unlike most other Urticaceae, Boehemeria is not know be to be generally consumed by mammalian herbivores; taste to humans is neutral, not bitter but not particuarky palatable. Moreover, cylindrica and other species in the genus contain unusual isoquinoline alkaloids that have considerable antibiotic activity (e.g. Al-Shamma et al. 1982). Curiously, there are virtually no reported medicinal uses in North America.