Common Nettle – Urtica dioica

Plant : The common nettle grows in large patches on waste ground, hedgerows, shrub-land and woodland, often near to water.  It can grow over 120 cm high.  It has a single, square sectioned stem, from which grow pairs of jagged edge leaves, on alternating sides.  Spikes of small flowers grow from the leaf nodes.  The stem and leaves have small stinging hairs.

Flower : It has separate male and female flowers on the same plant.  The male flowers occur at the top of the plant in four distinct spikes, which grown from the leaf nodes.  The small flowers spring open to reveal the stamen and release its pollen.  The Female flower is wind pollinated.  They occur in spikes, with numerous tiny flowers, lower down the stem.

Pollen : Click here to see more about the common nettle pollen.

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