Boehmeria, << boh MIHR ee uh or bay MIHR ee uh, >> is a group of plants in the nettle family. About 50 species have been identified. The group includes herbs, shrubs, and trees that are found in warm regions of the world. One kind, called false nettle, grows as a wildflower in moist, shady areas throughout the eastern United States and from Florida to Texas. Another kind, native to China and Japan, is cultivated for its strong and silky fiber. These plants and their fibers are called ramie, China grass, or rhea. See also Ramie .
