Stinging nettle, Scrub nettle, Ongaonga
Urtica incisa
Family: Urticaceae
What it is like
A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It has slender stems which are often woody. They lie along the ground near the base then extend upwards. They grow 1 m high. The leaves are narrow and thin. There are teeth along the edge. The leaves are 5-15 cm long and armed with stinging hairs. The flowers are small. They are clustered on short stalks from the leaf bases. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The seeds are light purple in colour.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows mainly on limy soils in shady places. It does best in a moist situations and often grows along creek banks and moist gullies. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), New Zealand (country/location of origin), Tasmania (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
Caution. The leaves have hairs that cause stinging. This disappears on cooking. The leaves can be boiled and eaten or used in tea.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
It can be grown from seed or cuttings.