Laportea is a genus of plants in the family Urticaceae. They are herbaceous, either annual or perennial. Like many plants of the Urticaceae, they have stinging hairs, and have stinging and non-stinging hairs on the same plant. The genus contains 22 species, including: The genus was {citation needed span|named after the French naturalist François ... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laportea
(from the article `Urticaceae`) ...distributed primarily in tropical regions. The family is typical of the nettle order (Urticales). Many species, especially the nettles (Urtica; ... Found on http://www.britannica.com/eb/a-z/l/15