Nettles are robust herbaceous plants famous for the fine stinging hairs that line their leaves and stems. They are found all over the world and also prove to be useful. From a botanical point of view, nettles are excellent companions for garden plants and in nature. They return nutrients to the soil and cause the leaves of neighboring plants to produce more oil, thereby making them more resilient. Mint, in particular, thrives near nettles. The medicinal properties of nettles have been known since the Middle Ages, as they purify the body and increase the production of red blood cells. Even today, nettle leaves are steamed and dehydrated to prepare tea and infusions. However, most people only become aware of their presence when they come into contact with them, due to the pain they cause. Knowing where they grow and what they look like will help you avoid being "pinched". If you want to learn how to recognize this plant, read on.
Steps
Step 1. Look for nettles along the banks of rivers or streams, in flooded plains and in the woods
In North America, the common nettle, or urtica dioica, also grows in the prairies.
Step 2. Stay away from the plants until you have recognized what type they are
Even if you barely touch them, nettles release formic acid and other chemical agents from their hair, causing a stinging sensation that lasts for many hours. It is always important to recognize a plant before touching it. Nettles do not have a particular scent or flowers, so they tend to mix with the rest of the flora. But if you learn to recognize their basic characteristics, you will be able to avoid the painful sting.
Step 3. Measure the plant
Based on the amount of sun it receives, the type of soil and other factors, the nettle grows up to 2.15 meters, but generally you will find shrubs of 0.61-1.20 meters.
Step 4. Wear heavy work gloves when you want to check the plant so you don't get stung
Step 5. Check for leaves that are egg-shaped and sprout in opposite directions from each other from the stem
They have rough or serrated edges.
Step 6. Measure the leaves
Usually they reach the length of 15 cm and the width of 5 cm.
Step 7. Verify that each leaf has 3-5 veins
However, remember that some nettle species have 7.
Step 8. Check the hair covering the leaves
Step 9. Look for white or grayish-white flowers
The nettle has both male and female flowers that bloom from late May until September. Some species have pink or yellow flowers.
Step 10. Check the stem, it has a hollow section with four lobes
It can grow upright, or as a climber and is covered with typical hairs. The roots of most nettles are yellow and fibrous.
Advice
- Look for nettles at certain times of the year in the areas where they proliferate. They are usually the first plants that sprout in spring and grow almost everywhere, even if they prefer shady areas.
- It is a plant that causes allergies to pets and generates bacterial skin infections in them that spread rapidly in conditions of humidity and heat, and can even be fatal.
