Stinging Nettle
Scientific Name:
Urtica dioica
Type:
Herbaceous Plant
Habitat:
Wet and shady places
Range:
Europe, North America, North Africa, and Asia
Status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
This species is
NON-NATIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
Stinging nettles have dark green, opposite, toothed and pointed leaves. Their stems can grow from 2 to 5 feet high. Up close, you can see the thin, stinging hairs (“trichomes”) covering the stem and undersides of the leaves.
Fast Facts:
The trichomes (hairs) of stinging nettle contain formic acid, acetylcholine, serotonin, and histamine, which can cause swelling along with mild to intense burning/stinging sensation. This reaction can last several hours, but it is not known to cause serious harm. The rash can be treated with cold compresses and topical antihistamine.
The sting from the nettle plant has actually been used medically to treat arthritis, bursitis, and even things such as stimulating hair growth and ED!
An individual plant will produce either male or female flowers.
Stinging nettle is edible: it can be made into a tea, brewed into a beer, or used like spinach or other leafy greens. It must be cooked first, though, to prevent stinging.
In the UK, they have raw nettle eating competitions to see who is the toughest and can tolerate eating the most with the sting.
Stinging nettle is high in many vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and proteins. Making it into a tea or cooking the leaves like greens are ways to get these many benefits. You can also make nettle pesto for a healthy and tasty treat!
Sources:
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Stinging Nettle
Wild Edible: Stinging Nettles
Daily Mail: “Why DO stinging nettles hurt so much?”
American Botanical Council: “Food as Medicine: Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica, Urticaceae)”
“Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide” by Rosemary Gladstar
Matador Network: “This stinging nettle eating competition is England’s strangest food tradition”
Contributor(s):
Jill Katz (research & content)
Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)