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Urtica dioica
One of the better known nettles, the stinging nettle gets its name from the many hollow, fine hairs that act as small needles, injecting histamine and other nasty things that produce a painful stinging sensation when touched.
There was a big patch of nettles under a tree, and the sunlight was streaming through its branches onto the nettles. I thought it looked pretty. I hadn't ever come across stinging nettles when I lived in Canada, so when I moved to the UK I unwittingly picked a leaf off a plant. I have never touched them since!
Spotted on May 24, 2011
Submitted on May 26, 2011
8 Comments
Then you already stay in canada? I wanted to meet you in this time was it would have been really cool! This plant, it stings? hihihihi Superb photo Laura! It's great the lighting we can see all the small veins and this beautiful green :))
It's true about the butterflies, where I live the stinging nettle is considered very important for many butterfly species. Also, the nettle is a good sign that there is abundant nitrogen in the soil.
Thanks all! Yes, I have heard that nettle tea is very nice, I just wouldn't want to be the person to go and pick the leaves! Also, wouldn't have guessed some butterflies actually like them. Interesting!
Picked carefully and boiled, the leaves actually become edible!
Far too many of these things where I live, but apparently some butterflies really like them.
Nice picture, especially the illumination and you can see the tiny fragile hairs containing the toxin. Urtica dioica is very common where I live, I think I got a picture of it, too. Despite it's painful stings it's often used for tea, fertilizing of soil and my grandma claims the stings help against arthritis (o; . Furthermore they are edible, when washed as the hairs break and it's save to touch them.
Thanks Dan! I'll check out your stinging nettle too :) And yeah, they're pretty painful, doesn't take much contact to sting you either!
Great photos with the light. I just posted a stinging nettle a few days ago. I hear you too Laura, I brushed up against it before I noticed it. Won't do that again!