Roman nettle
Urtica pilulifera
Family: Urticaceae
What it is like
A medium sized herb. It grows each year from seed. It is hairy. The leaves are oval or heart shaped. They may or may not have teeth along the edge. The male and female flowers are on the same plant. The male flowers are in clusters in a raceme and the female flowers are in round heads. The fruit are in rounded clusters. They are 9-11 mm across.
Where it is found
It grows in waste and disturbed ground in Mediterranean countries.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Algeria, Asia, Balkans, Bosnia, Croatia, Cyprus, Europe, Greece, India, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, North America, Palestine, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, Slovenia, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
The leaves are used for herbal teas. The stems and young shoots are eaten raw in salads. They are also cooked. They are boiled then fried.
Edible parts
Leaves, leaves - tea, stems
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Dalagan, Gezgezok, Gezo, Gurrais, Horriq, Isirgac, Isirgan otu, Qirrez, Qurrais