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Urticaceae FAMILY

Urtica angustifolia

Urtica angustifolia

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

The leaves of the plants have stinging hairs, causing irritation to the skin[ 21 Title The Herb Book. Publication Author Lust. J. Publisher Bantam books Year 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2 Description Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book. , 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. This action is neutralized by heat so the cooked leaves are perfectly safe and nutritious[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. However, only young leaves should be used because older leaves develop gritty particles called cystoliths which act as an irritant to the kidneys[ 172 Title Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. Publication Author Schofield. J. J. Publisher Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska Year 2003 ISBN 0882403699 Description A nice guide to some useful plants in that area. ].

Botanical Description

Urtica angustifolia is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.50 metres tall. It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate
Native RangeE. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
HabitatWoods in mountains all over Japan[ 58 Title Flora of Japan. (English translation) Publication Author Ohwi. G. Publisher Smithsonian Institution Year 1965 ISBN - Description The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader. ]. Riversides and mixed montane woods, springs, rocky screes and occasionally by dwellings and in waste places[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].