Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica spp. holosericea) is an herbaceous
perennial flowering plant that is found all over the Western United States. It grows
from 3 - 6 feet tall; leaves are 1 - 6 inches long, ovate, and serrate; flowers
are tiny and grow in clusters; and the fruit is an achene. In the San Francisco
Bay Area, the plant thrives in oak woodlands, riparian zones, and in nutrient
rich soil.
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| Stinging Nettle. Photo by Júlio Reis, image released under the GNU Public Documentation License. |
Tiny, stinging hairs cover the stems and leaves, and cause
temporary skin irritation when touched; and pollen may cause hay fever. However,
stinging nettle may be tolerant of heavy metals and useful for rehabilitating contaminated
soil.
California native people brewed a tea for treating sores and
hives, and boiled the leaves to eat. Western settlers used the fibers to weave
cloth.
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