Common Nettle

Also known as Stinging Nettle, this plant is well known to all walkers in the countryside, for the leaves and stems are clothed in stiff, needle-like, hollow hairs which break at the slightest touch, releasing an intensely irritating fluid. There are also many non-stinging hairs, the number varying from plant to plant. The tiny flowers are green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, and have yellow stamens. Males and females are on separate plants; male flowers are borne on long, pendent branches, while the female flowers are in tighter clusters.
The plant spreads by rhizomes to form large patches, which may persist for many years.

LEAVES : Opposite, heart-shaped, toothed, strongly veined, and hairy.

PLANT HEIGHT : 50–150cm.

FLOWER SIZE : 1–2mm wide.

FRUIT : Small, rounded achene.

FLOWERING TIME : May–September.

SIMILAR SPECIES : Small Nettle (U. urens), which is an annual, smaller, and has a less potent sting.