Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Urtica chamaedryoides
Pursh nettle
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
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F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: State threatened, Regional Forester Sensitive Species

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-herb, annual

Roots:

Shoots: opposite leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; crenate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; lanceolate leaf shape

Inflorescence: spike

Flowers: unisexual, monoecious; 4 merous; incomplete, not petals; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: achene

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Riverbank thickets; low rich woods on alluvial ground and along slopes bordering streams; low open ground.

ILPIN Notes: Bailey, W. M., and J. R. Swayne. 1952. Some southern Illinois plant records. Illinois State Academy of Science Transactions 44:40-41. This species bears stiff brittle hairs which cause intense itching upon contact with the skin. Young leaves may be boiled and eaten as a vegetable. A rennet can be made from a decoction of this species. Stalks can be used for making cloth. This species reaches its northern range limit in Illinois.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: wind
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 6
  • Chicago Area:

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