Urtica dioica
Urtica dioica
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 or by thorough drying, 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 dioica is a stout herbaceous perennial plant, spreading rapidly by means of underground rhizomes and often forming dense patches, especially in rich soils. The stems can be 80 - 200cm tall, all parts of the plant being clothed with stinging hairs[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. One of the most undervalued of economic plants, nettle has a very wide range of uses, providing a nutritious food, effective medicines, an excellent fibre and many other commodities. It is harvested from the wild for local use, but has at times been cultivated, especially as a fibre crop. There is some research being carried out in Europe, especially in Germany, in order to develop superior cultivars for producing fibre and biomass[ 289 Title The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database Publication Author Website http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops. ]. Especially when growing in rich soils, Urtica dioica can spread vigorously and become very difficult to eradicate. It has become an invasive weed in many areas outside its native range, including at higher elevations in the Tropics. It is said that cutting the plant down three times a year for three years will kill it[ 4 Title A Modern Herbal. Publication Author Grieve. Publisher Penguin Year 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 Description Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants. ].