U. dioica has a flavour similar to spinach mixed with cucumber when cooked, and is rich in vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium. [66] U. dioica can be a troubling weed, and mowing can increase plant density. It is an infamous native of the Pacific Northwest. 4. Some leaves near the top of the plant take on a purple tint. Or try making fresh stinging nettle pasta. [73], Urtica is derived from a Latin word meaning 'sting'. dioica Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Urticaceae Genus: Urtica Species: U. dioica Binomial name Urtica dioica L. Urtica dioica, often known as common nettle, stinging nettle or nettle leaf, or just a nettle or stinger, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family … This plant can be mistaken for henbit dead-nettle which has similar flowers. Nettle was believed to be a galactagogue – a substance that promotes lactation. The flowers have four stamens and yellow anthers. The leaves are coarsely toothed, pointed on the ends, and can be several inches long. [74], "Stinging nettle" redirects here. [20] Dock leaves, which often grow in similar habitats, are regarded as a folk remedy to counteract the sting of a nettle,[21] although there is no evidence of any chemical effect. Cooking, soaking, or drying will neutralize the sting -- it's not really the needles that cause pain, but the chemicals they inject. Seeds contain much more fatty acid than leaves.[54]. A close-up of the Wood Nettle stem, showing the stinging hairs. Minerals (Ca, K, Mg, P, Si, S, Cl) and trace elements (Ti, 80 ppm,[55] Mn, Cu, Fe) contents depend mostly on the soil and the season. The leaves have a strongly serrated margin, a cordate base, and an acuminate tip with a terminal leaf tooth longer than adjacent laterals. The trichomes inject formic acid, histamines, and other chemicals into your skin, which is what causes the sting. The top baby leaves are selected and simmered, then mixed with other ingredients such as herbs and rice, before being used as a filling between dough layers. The presence of nettles may indicate the site of a long-abandoned building, and can also indicate soil fertility. Rubbing the affected area with jewelweed or plantain can help relieve the sting. Long sleeves and work gloves will work, too. It gets its name from the myriad of spines that cover foliage and stems. It is possible that the sash was traded from mainland Europe, but perhaps more probable that it was locally made. Stinging nettle is an herbaceous plant and often grows to about 2 metres (6.5 feet) in height. Urtica dioica, often known as common nettle, stinging nettle (although not all plants of this species sting) or nettle leaf, or just a nettle or stinger, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. They reported that nettle leaf flour had three times more protein than wheat or barley and less than half the carbohydrates. [43] Urtication, or flogging with nettles is the process of deliberately applying stinging nettles to the skin to provoke inflammation. The central stem is strongly 4-angled and largely glabrous. [53] Mature leaves contain about 40% α- linolenic acid, a valuable omega-3 acid. [25] The same idiom exists in the Serbian language - неће гром у коприве. [50] Fibre varieties are normally cloning varieties and therefore planted from vegetative propagated plantlets. Wood nettle is harder to gather in quantity and it's more susceptible to the pressure of over-harvest. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is found throughout Eurasia, North America, and northern Africa, and has been introduced to parts of South America. Unlike cotton, nettles grow easily without pesticides. The effectiveness of the herb stinging nettle is really effective and can be seen for these uses has not been proven. It has been used as a medicine in Europe for over 2,000 years. Last thing I want to do is drink a glass of tea only to swallow a bunch of dislodged nettle needles! The metaphor may refer to the fact that if a nettle plant is grasped firmly rather than brushed against, it does not sting so readily, because the hairs are crushed down flat and do not penetrate the skin so easily.[24]. Standard deviations are given in brackets. The researchers blanched nettle leaves for one minute, drained, and dried at 60°C (140°F) for two days and then ground the dried leaves into flour. Not only is nettle an excellent food source, but it also has a long history of use as a fiber. [44], In indigenous justice systems in Ecuador, urtication was used as punishment for severe crimes in 2010. An agent thus used was considered to be a rubefacient (something that causes redness), used as a folk remedy for treating rheumatism. Just grab a few leaves, masticate (chew) them up a bit, and apply the resulting leaf pulp to the offending area. Stinging nettles are used in a wide variety of recipes from around the world, so use your googler for inspiration. Competitors are given 60 cm (24 in) stalks of the plant, from which they strip the leaves and eat them. A Wood Nettle leaf. How to Make a Stinging Nettle Tincture. Finally, keep in mind that it’s not a true nettle, because it doesn’t have those stinging spikes that make many of us break out in an allergic reaction. The competition dates back to 1986, when two neighbouring farmers attempted to settle a dispute about which had the worst infestation of nettles. (At first I thought they looked like mint, too–but they don’t have a scent.) Pinching off the top of the plant is a great way to take only tender new growth while leaving most of the plant to continue growing. Spit poultices can be quite effective and are a useful first aid skill to know. Standard deviations are given in brackets. The aromatic leaves are hairy, heart-shaped and have toothed edges. The tiny flowers are arranged in inflorescences that hang off the stems like catkins. Affiliate Disclaimer: In some cases, we use affiliate links, which means we get a small (tiny) commission if you make a purchase after clicking a link. However, when I tried to pull them up, they STUNG like stinging nettles I’ve encountered in the UK. The name urticaria for hives comes from the Latin name of nettle (Urtica, from urere, to burn). Under middle-European conditions, stems yield typically between 45 and 55 dt / ha (decitons per hectare), which is comparable to flax stem yield. I'm actually doing the ecosystem a favor by harvesting nettles! Native to Eurasia, it has taken quite nicely to our fields, farms and cities. [34] Nettle soup is a common use of the plant, particularly in Northern and Eastern Europe. Stinging nettle is a perennial that spreads by rhizome and seed. [52], Fresh leaves contain approximately 82.4% water, 17.6% dry matter, 5.5% protein, 0.7 to 3.3% fat, and 7.1% carbohydrates. But for generations, traditional herbalists have prescribed stinging nettle to alleviate allergy symptoms and a 1990 double-blind study corroborates its efficacy (using freeze-dried extract of stinging nettle). [67] Regular and persistent tilling will greatly reduce its numbers, and the use of herbicides such as 2,4-D and glyphosate are effective control measures. Purple Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum, Lamiaceae) is one of the first plants to flower in spring, sometimes even as early as January. [22], In Great Britain and Ireland, the stinging nettle (U. dioica subsp. [5][16][17][18][19] Anti-itch drugs, usually in the form of creams containing antihistamines or hydrocortisone, may provide relief from nettle dermatitis. copyright © 2010-2020 Wild Edible, all rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions. This nettle has already flowered. [37][38] Similarly, in Greece the tender leaves are often used, after simmering, as a filling for hortopita, which is similar to spanakopita, but with wild greens rather than spinach for filling. [54] Use: One of the earliest spring greens available in the season, dead nettle is named for its leaves, which are similar in shape to stinging nettle (Urtica spp. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. We use nettle regularly during pollen season — both freeze-dried and fresh tea. Smaller, younger leaves are more heart-shaped. Nettle leaves also make a greenish dye, while the roots were used traditionally as for yellow dye. Feeding nettle has no detrimental effect on the performance of the laying hens or the general egg quality. He also showed me jewel weed. Inflorescence is catkin-like, 48 cm (1.63.2\") long. Also, as the name suggests, it’s got dark purple flowers that are actually quite pretty. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. [53] Nettle contains much less carotenes and retinol than carrots, which contain 8.35 RE per g fresh weight. Puree fresh leaves, steep in hot water, let cool, pour into ice cube trays, and freeze. The perennial stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a perennial, herbaceous plant with creeping roots. Unlike members of the Urtica family, purple … We only link books and other products that we think would be useful to our readers. [57], Ruminants avoid fresh stinging nettles, however if the nettles are wilted or dry, voluntary intake can be high. 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