Stinging nettle
September 9, 2015
Urtica dioica L.
Life cycle
Erect, rhizomatous perennial.
Stinging nettle seedling.
Leaves
Opposite, egg- to lance-shaped with a rounded base and pointed tip. Petiolated leaves have coarsely toothed margins, smooth surfaces to a few hairs beneath and long, stinging hairs on the lower surface. Contact with stinging hairs can cause a skin irritation.
Stinging nettle leaf.
Stems
Four-angled, herbaceous stems are usually erect and unbranched, up to 6 feet tall and covered with stinging hairs. Contact with stinging hairs can cause a skin irritation.
Stinging nettle stem (left). Close-up of stinging hairs on stem of stinging nettle (right).
Flowers and fruit
Inconspicuous, green to yellow flowers are formed in clusters in the upper leaf axils. The seed is enclosed in a single-seeded, tan, egg-shaped fruit.
Stinging nettle foliage and flower clusters.
Reproduction
Seeds and rhizomes that form extensive colonies.
Print a PDF of this page: Stinging nettle.
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Randy Rice: One farmer's vaccine story
Published on April 10, 2024
-
Mindfulness for Better Living on MCTV Network
Published on April 2, 2024
-
MI AG Today interview on the MSU Managing Farm Stress project
Published on May 1, 2023
-
Cultivating Calm: The MSU Solution to Farm Stress
Published on May 1, 2023
-
Facing Challenging Times on the Farm
Published on March 7, 2023
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.