[53][57] Nettle contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C), riboflavin (vitamin B2), pantothenic acid, vitamin K1[53] and tocopherols (vitamin E). Competitors are given 60 cm (24 in) stalks of the plant, from which they strip the leaves and eat them. Stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, is native to North America, including California and other western U. S. states. (It's Free. In reality, Native American people knew perfectly well how to avoid being stung by nettle plants and in fact, how to eat them safely in salads (by boiling the … dioica).Both are common, especially in disturbed areas. In Hungarian, the idiom csalánba nem üt a mennykő, the thunderbolt does not strike into nettle, means bad people escape trouble or the devil looks after his own. A stew or soup containing a handful of dried nettle can provide hair follicles with nutrients such as potassium, iron, vitamin A and vitamins C from the inside. Roman soldiers in England did the same thing to help them better adapt to the cold, damp climate. More recently, companies in Austria, Germany, and Italy have started to produce commercial nettle textiles. [27] The idea was mentioned by William Camden in his book Britannia of 1586. This is a bit of a misnomer considering that both sexes of flowers for our subspecies generally grow on the same plant. [22], In Great Britain and Ireland, the stinging nettle (U. dioica subsp. The stinging nettle is the Red Admiral caterpillar's primary host plant and can attract migrating Red Admiral butterflies to a garden. The native species can be recognized in that male and female flowers appear on a single plant (monoecious), and the plant has only sparse stinging hairs, especially on the stem. [51], Nettles may be used as a dye-stuff, producing yellow from the roots, or yellowish green from the leaves. Seeds contain much more fatty acid than leaves.[54]. Giving nettles a quick turn in a pan with a bit of oil and garlic isn't the … It primarily grows in damp, fertile soil. Like the other two species, U. urens has limited distribution in the desert, occurring only in Arizona along the Gila River. The stinging nettle is a plant found practically all over the world. In more recent decades, freeze dried nettle has dominated the market for its use in alleviating symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis. Stinging nettle root (Urtica dioica) historically has been used for urinary complaints, and the AHP Therapeutic Compendium provides a critical review of both the traditional and scientific data.Dr Sigrun Chrubasik, the primary author of the therapeutics section, which addresses pharmacology and clinical research, is an expert in clinical botanical medicine research and has published … The taxonomy of Urtica species has been confused, and older sources are likely to use a variety of systematic names for these plants. Whoever strips and eats the most stinging nettle leaves in a fixed time is the winner. Three species of stinging nettles grow in the American southwest: Urtica dioica (subspecies, Urtica dioica gracilis), Urtica gracilenta and Urtica urens. Caterpillars, including those of the painted lady, the red admiral and the satyr comma, consume the leaves. Feeding nettle has no detrimental effect on the performance of the laying hens or the general egg quality. It may be that the act of rubbing a dock leaf against a nettle sting acts as a distracting counterstimulation, or that belief in the dock's effect provides a placebo effect. During the middle ages, monks supposedly flagellated themselves with nettle for penance. However, at least six clear subspecies of U. dioica are described, some formerly classified as separate species: Other species' names formerly accepted as distinct by some authors but now regarded as synonyms of one or other subspecies include U. breweri, U. californica, U. cardiophylla, U. lyalli, U. major, U. procera, U. serra, U. strigosissima, U. trachycarpa, and U. viridis. [64][65] They are also one of the few plants that can tolerate, and flourish in, soils rich in poultry droppings. [31] Soaking stinging nettles in water or cooking removes the stinging chemicals from the plant, which allows them to be handled and eaten without injury. Unlike cotton, nettles grow easily without pesticides. The competition dates back to 1986, when two neighbouring farmers attempted to settle a dispute about which had the worst infestation of nettles. The plant gets its name from the Latin word uro meaning “I burn.” If not handled properly you can end up with a burning rash. [46], Historically, nettles have been used to make clothing for almost 3,000 years, as ancient nettle textiles from the Bronze Age have been found in Denmark. [37][38] Similarly, in Greece the tender leaves are often used, after simmering, as a filling for hortopita, which is similar to spanakopita, but with wild greens rather than spinach for filling. Stinging nettle is particularly found as an understory plant in wetter environments, but it is also found in meadows. As luck would have it, I also picked the North American nettle that stings the worse, Urtica chamaedryoides (UR-tee-ka kam-ee-dree-OY-deez) which is a combination of Dead Latin and Living Greek that means “burning dwarf.” Modern Greeks call the nettle Tsouknida.. [47] German Army uniforms were almost all made from nettle during World War I due to a potential shortage of cotton. [74], "Stinging nettle" redirects here. Cambridge University Press. The European subspecies has been introduced into Australia, North America and South America.[10][11]. The flowers grow alon… It has hairs that cause reactions lasting for weeks. Urtica and urens are both derived from the Latin "uro," meaning to burn. Some claim that the term "nettle" refers to the plant’s needle-like sting, while others trace the word’s origin to the plant’s use for weaving, hence the term "nettle" or "net-plant." Since nettles prefer to grow in phosphorus-rich and nitrogen rich soils that have recently been disturbed (and thus aerated), the growth of nettles is an indicator that an area has high fertility (especially phosphate and nitrate), and thus is an indicator to gardeners as to the quality of the soil. [3][4] The species is divided into six subspecies, five of which have many hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on the leaves and stems, which act like hypodermic needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation upon contact ("contact urticaria", a form of contact dermatitis). dioica) is introduced. Food: Stinging nettle (U. dioica) young shoots and tender top leaves can be gathered (using gloves) and dried for a potherb. In Denmark, burial shrouds made of nettle fabrics have been discovered that date back to the Bronze Age (3000-2000 BC). [citation needed], Nettles have a number of other uses in the vegetable garden, including the potential for encouraging beneficial insects. It is found across New Mexico and in the easternmost part of Arizona. [15], Urtica dioica produces its inflammatory effect on skin (stinging, burning sensation often called "contact urticaria") both by impaling the skin via spicules – causing mechanical irritation – and by biochemical irritants, such as histamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, among other chemicals. It bears small, greenish or brownish, numerous flowers in dense axillary inflorescences. [28] However, in 2011, an early Bronze Age burial cist on Whitehorse Hill,[29][30] Dartmoor, Devon was excavated. Standard deviations are given in brackets. Direct seeding is possible, but leads to great heterogeneity in maturity. Stinging nettle is distributed nearly worldwide but is especially common in Europe, North America, North Africa, and parts of Asia. Gledhill, David (2008). [54] Plants are generally scattered and overlooked until brushed against. [67] Regular and persistent tilling will greatly reduce its numbers, and the use of herbicides such as 2,4-D and glyphosate are effective control measures. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is found throughout Eurasia, North America, and northern Africa, and has been introduced to parts of South America. U. d. gracilis is the only perennial of the three. [20] Dock leaves, which often grow in similar habitats, are regarded as a folk remedy to counteract the sting of a nettle,[21] although there is no evidence of any chemical effect. Young plants were harvested by Native Americans and used as a cooked plant in spring when other food plants were scarce. [23] In Seán O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock, one of the characters quotes Aesop "Gently touch a nettle and it'll sting you for your pains/Grasp it as a lad of mettle and soft as silk remains". Stinging hairs, or trichomes, grow on stems and leaves. [33] The leaves are also dried and may then be used to make a herbal tea, as can also be done with the nettle's flowers. Heiko Bellmann: Der Neue Kosmos Schmetterlingsführer, Schmetterlinge, Raupen und Futterpflanzen, pg. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); DesertUSA Newsletter -- We send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant information and much more. Today, it can be found all over the world, but its origins are in the colder regions of Europe and Asia. Sign up below or read more about the DesertUSA newsletter here. Nettle leaves have long been used fresh as a wild food in spring and then dried for its beneficial properties. [40][41], Alcoholic beer can be made from young nettles. Habits/Habitats. Boiling the nettle destroys the irritant quality. It is possible that the sash was traded from mainland Europe, but perhaps more probable that it was locally made. Native Americans helped themselves stay awake at night with a quick flagellation or two. The invasive U. urens is a classic weed with the widest habitat requirements, sprouting near old dwellings, waste areas and other disturbed sites, generally at elevations below 2300 feet. The two annual species grow from a taproot and are erect. Stinging nettle is protected by needle-like projections that easily inject irritating substances into the skin. The skin surrounding the hives may be red. stinging nettle. [31] In its peak season, nettle contains up to 25% protein, dry weight, which is high for a leafy green vegetable. Histamine, acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine are the primary irritating chemicals. In New York there are two very similar subspecies of tall perennial stinging nettles, American (Urtica dioica ssp. The area of … Cold objects or water reactivate the symptoms. It can often form dense clusters. A Native American stinging nettle and squash soup recipe, provided by the Northwest Indian College, consists of stinging nettles, acorn squash, broth, garlic, onion and oil. Stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica, is a common plant that grows in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The presence of nettles may indicate the site of a long-abandoned building, and can also indicate soil fertility. European Stinging Nettle . The North American Deserts They also often grow in masses, forming a monoculture. Stinging nettle rash presents as raised bumps or hives that are often light in color and up to a centimeter in diameter. "The Names of Plants". Stinging nettle’s leaves and root provide a wide variety of nutrients, … If you see a group of such plants, look for those noxious bristly hairs along the stems of the plants and on the undersides of their leaves. An agent thus used was considered to be a rubefacient (something that causes redness), used as a folk remedy for treating rheumatism. Minerals (Ca, K, Mg, P, Si, S, Cl) and trace elements (Ti, 80 ppm,[55] Mn, Cu, Fe) contents depend mostly on the soil and the season. gracilis) is native, while the other (U. dioica ssp. 170, Frankh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co, Stuttgart 2003. [12] Human and animal waste may be responsible for elevated levels of phosphate[13] and nitrogen in the soil, providing an ideal environment for nettles. Nettle leaf tea is derived from the leaves of the common nettle plant, also known as the stinging nettle. The English word 'nettled', meaning irritated or angry, is derived from 'nettle'.[26]. Formerly, more species were recognised than are now accepted. L) Powder or Essential Oil", "Compost Teas vs Other Teas and Extracts", "Potential for Greenhouse Aeroponic Cultivation of Urtica Dioica", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Urtica_dioica&oldid=991655747, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from September 2019, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Articles with failed verification from March 2015, Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Growing seedlings: For this technique pre-germinated seeds are sown between mid-/end-February and beginning of April and grown in, This page was last edited on 1 December 2020, at 04:32.
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