NEN Gallery

A roughly hairy plant with short-stalked leaves in opposite pairs. The leaves and stem are covered with stinging hairs that release an irritant histamine-containing juice when broken. The plant is dioecious (i.e. there are separate male and female plants). The flowers are on drooping catkins. People have had a love hate relationship with this plant from the earliest times. From an annoyance and instrument of torture to a plant used for making cloth, food and medicine. Its sting is caused by an acid from the breaking nettle tip. A common plant of hedgerows, wasteland and neglected gardens. Picture taken 10th June at Felmersham, Bedfordshire.