dog nettle (burning nettle; dwarf nettle)
Urticaceae (Nettle family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect, simple or branched, solitary, sparsely to moderately hairy, with strongly stinging hairs and bristles, 10-80 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves few, reduced or lacking; stem leaves elliptic to egg-shaped, often enlarged upwards, opposite, the blades 1-4 cm long, coarsely and deeply toothed, stalked, the stalks 0.3-3 cm long; stipules 2-3 mm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of mixed male or female flowers in a 1-2 cm, axillary cluster or panicle; corollas lacking; sepals 4, 0.5-0.9 mm long.
Fruits:
Achenes, egg-shaped, 1.5-1.8 mm long.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Mesic to dry roadsides and waste places in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; rare in SW and SC BC south of 51degreeN; introduced from Eurasia.Status Information
Taxonomic Keys
1. Plants tap-rooted annuals 10-80 cm tall; inflorescence in dense clusters of mixed male and female flowers; mature achenes triangular................... .....Urtica urens
1. Plants rhizomatous perennials 100-300 cm tall; inflorescence a panicle of either male or female flowers; mature achenes egg-shaped................ .....Urtica dioica 2. Male and female flowers on different plants; leaf blades abaxially hispid, both surfaces with stinging hairs................................ssp. dioica 2. Male and female flowers mostly on the same plants; leaf blades abaxially glabrous or puberulent......................ssp. gracilis Sources: Illustrated Flora of British Columbia and Flora North America Online. |