Common Name: Stinging Nettle, Common Nettle, Nettle Leaf
Specific Name: Urtica dioica
Known Occurrence at Taylor Point:
Map Areas: Bridge 4A
Category: Herbaceous Plant, that may be either Native or Non-Native, depending on which subspecies occurs. Two subspecies of Stinging Nettle are known to occur in New England: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis is native; U. dioica ssp. dioica is introduced. U. dioica ssp. gracilis can be distinguished from the non-native subspecies in that it is monoecious, and the plant has only sparse stinging hairs, especially on the stem. By contrast U.dioica ssp. dioica is typically dioecious and its leaf blades have stinging hairs on both surfaces.
Ecological Considerations:
Urtica dioica is a perennial flowering plant. It can grow three to seven feet tall in the summer and generally dies down to the ground in winter. Its soft, green leaves are 1 to 6 in long and are borne oppositely on an erect, wiry, occasionally squarish, usually hairy, green stem. The greenish or brownish flowers are mostly unisexual with male and female flowers on the same or different plants. The tiny flowers, each with four petals, are densely clustered on elongated inflorescences towards the top of the stem. The leaves have a strongly serrated margin, and an acuminate tip with a terminal leaf tooth longer than adjacent laterals. The leaves and stems are very hairy.
The species is actually divided into six subspecies, five of which have many hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on the leaves and stems. Two of the subspecies occur in New England one (Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis) is native, while the other (U. dioica ssp. dioica) is introduced. The native species can be recognized in that male and female flowers appear on a single plant (monoecious), and the plant has only sparse stinging hairs, especially on the stem.
The tips of the needle-like trichomes come off when touched, transforming the hair into a needle that can inject several chemicals including acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin, moroidin, and possibly formic acid, into the skin, causing a painful sting to humans and other animals.
Stinging Nettle has bright yellow, widely spreading rhizomes and stolons. The roots also are yellow.
Stinging Nettle commonly grows in disturbed areas and along forest edges and in meadows. The plant has a long history of use as a source of medicine, food, and fibre. Nettles are the exclusive food plant for the larval stages of several species of butterflies and moths.
Problems Posed by this Plant:
A stinging nettle sting can feel like a bee sting: sharp, sudden, and very painful. Even a small nettle plant only a few inches tall can deliver a nasty sting. People pulling weeds have even been stung through cloth gloves.
Native Species Affected by this Plant
Factors Affording a Competitive Advantage to this Plant:
Propagation Mechanisms and Related Issues Affecting Efforts to Remove or Eliminate this Plant From Taylor Point:
Documented Best Removal Practices and Options/Pros and Cons of Various Options:
Additional Photos:
Sources cited:
Go Botany
NY Dept of Environmental Conservation
Wildflowers and Weeds
Wiki Stinging Nettle
Plants of the World Online
Key Words:
Urtica dioica
Stinging Nettle
Common Nettle
Nettle Leaf
Bridge 4A