Wood Nettle
Description:
Clusters of small
greenish flowers in axils of alternate leaves on a stout stem with
stinging hairs; female flowers in loose, elongated clusters in upper
axils, male flowers in shorter clusters in lower axils.
Flowers:
About 1/8" long; female flowers with 4 sepals and
1pistil; male flowers with 5 sepals and 5 stamens
2 1/2-8" long, thin, ovate,long-stalked, coarsely
toothed.
Fruit:
Dry, seed-like, crescent-shaped.
Height:
1 1/2-4'.
Flowering:
July-September.
Habitat:
Low woods
and streambanks.
Comments:
Wood Nettle
is one of the nettles that really stings; it can cause severe pain to hapless
passersby who touch it. The flowers of the similar Stringing Nettle (Urtica
dioica) are in tighter, slender clusters in axils of opposite leaves with
heart-shaped bases.