Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Urtica dioica
Stinging nettle
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA PlantsITISThe Plant ListIPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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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: FLNAUSDA PlantsBONAPBISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

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M
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J
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-herb, perennial

Roots: adventitious, rhizomes

Shoots: opposite leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; serrate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; oblong, lanceolate leaf shape

Inflorescence: panicle, raceme

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

Fruit: achene

Physiology: autotrophic

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in rich woods, moist waste ground; barnyards.

ILPIN Notes: Species is occasional to common in northern 1/2 of Illinois; rare in southern 1/2. Stephens, H.A. 1980. Poisonous Plants of the Central United States. Regent Press of Kansas. Lawrence, KA. 165 pp. Each individual plant is usually prevailing staminate or pistillate. Stiff, brittle hairs may cause itching; young leaves may be boiled and eaten as a vegetable. Old stalks are used for cloth making; boiled leaves produce a rennet-like decoction (Medsger, Stephens).

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:
  • Chicago Area:

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