Urtica urens

Taihape. Dec 2012.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

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Common names

nettle, stinging nettle

Family

Urticaceae

Authority

Urtica urens L.

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

Conservation status

Not applicable

Habitat

Common throughout New Zealand. Gardens, under trees, disturbed pature and sheep camps.

Detailed description

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”

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