Common Nettle
Urtica dioica
Stinging nettle is an extraordinarily common plant — chances are you’ve seen its hairy, toothed leaves before or even been stung by it, though you may not remember it. It is an inconspicuous plant with bristly, light green leaves which span 3 to 15 cm long. The leaves, as well as the long, branching stems, are covered in stinging hairs. Emerging from the stems, directly beneath the leaves, are slender, feathery looking clusters of small greenish flowers.
Basic Information
Member of the Urticaceae (Nettle) family
Perennial herb
There are six recognized subspecies of U. dioica:
U. dioica subsp. dioica (European stinging nettle) — is found in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, and has stinging hairs
U. dioica subsp. galeopsifolia (fen nettle or stingless nettle) — from Europe, does not have stinging hairs
U. dioica subsp. afghanica — from southwestern and central Asia, can be either stinging or hairless
U. dioica subsp. gansuensis — from eastern Asia (China), has stinging hairs
U. dioica subsp. gracilis (American stinging nettle) _ from North America, has stinging hairs and is monoecious (having both the male and female reproductive organs in the same individual)
U. dioica subsp. holosericea (hoary stinging nettle) — from North America, has stinging hairs and is monoecious
Habitat
Native to much of Europe, Asia, and North America
In North America, this nettle is found throughout Canada and the United States (with the exception of Hawaii)
It grows especially abundantly in the Pacific Northwest because of the heavy annual rainfall
Especially abundant in Northern Europe and Asia, where it is found in the countryside
Commonly found on roadsides, ditches, and meadows
Ecological Role
Spreads by abundant seeds and also by rhizomes, which make it particularly hardy
often able to survive and re-establish quickly after fire
This plant is especially attractive and useful to butterflies
It acts as a larval host for the Question Mark, Milbert's Tortoiseshell, and Red Admiral butterflies
Some moth larvae eat the plant, such as angle shades, buff ermine, dot moth, grey chi, grey pug, and lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing
The roots are also consumed by the larva of the ghost moth (Hepialus humuli)
Although nutritious, this plant is not widely eaten by either wildlife or livestock, likely because of the sting
Reproduction
Blooms from June to September
Flowers are unisexual, with either male or female on a given plant, or on same plant with males in upper leaf axils, females lower.
Alternative Names
Burn nettle, stinging nettle, nettle leaf, nettle, tall nettle, stinger, burn-weed, or burn-hazel
Historical Uses
Nettle has a long history of medicinal, food, and other uses
Stinging nettle fibers were used by Native Americans in the Northwest to make twine, fishing nets, and rope
The young shoots are edible when boiled
This plant has a number of medicinal uses, which include:
A tea made from the leaves for cleansing tonic and blood purifier
often used in the treatment of hay fever, arthritis, anaemia
An infusion of the plant for stopping internal bleeding
Externally, the plant for skin complaints, arthritic pain, gout, sciatica, neuralgia, hemorrhoids, and hair problems
The fresh leaves can be rubbed or beaten onto the skin to treat rheumatism in a practice, called urtification
The juice of the nettle can be used as an antidote to stings from the leaves and an infusion of the fresh leaves is healing and soothing as a lotion for burns
The root has been shown to have a beneficial effect upon enlarged prostate glands
Additional Information
Hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on the leaves and stems act like hypodermic needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals into the skin to produce a stinging sensation
In Europe, nettles have a strong association with human habitation and buildings, and can indicate the site of a long-abandoned building
Accumulated human and animal waste may be responsible for elevated levels of phosphate and nitrogen in the soil that provides an ideal environment for nettles.
This plant is commercially harvested to make green coloring
