Small nettle, Lesser Nettle
Urtica urens

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

An erect annual herb. It is branched. It grows 60 cm high. The stems are soft and 4 angled. The leaves are broadly oval and deeply toothed. The leaves are 1-4 cm long. They are armed with sharply pointed stinging hairs. The flowers are small. They are in short clusters arising from the base of the leaves.

There are over 500 Urtica species.

Where it is found

It grows in temperate regions. In Tibet in China it grows between 2,800-2,900 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andorra, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Europe (country/location of origin), Falklands, Greenland, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Swaziland, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, Yemen

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten as a potherb. They are also mixed with meat as a relish. They are also used in omelettes.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Bubazi, Chichicastle, Chinitta pallo, Dog nettle, Dwarf Nettle, Imbabatane, Imbati, Impawa, Irawu, Irhawu, Isibathi, Isibati, Isirgan, Mala kopriva, Ortiga, Ortiga ardiente, Ortiga chica, Ortiga comun, Ortiga menor, Ortiga negra, Ortiga petita, Pokrzywa, Rupa chico, Ububazi, Umbababazane

Synonyms

Urtica trianae Rusby;