Urtica urens
Common name
nettle, stinging nettle
Family
Urticaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
URTURE
Habitat
Common throughout New Zealand. Gardens, under trees, disturbed pature and sheep camps.
Features
Erect annual that grows to 60cm tall. Has dark green, heart-shaped leaves (to 8cm long) in opposite pairs. Stinging bristles on the leaves and stems.
Flower colours
Green
Life cycle
Annual
Year naturalised
1846
Origin
N. temperate regions
Etymology
urtica: From the Latin verb urere which means “to burn”