Urtica dioicaL. Stinging nettle

Urtica dioicaL. - Stinging nettle

Scientific Description:

Coarse perennial herb with an extensively spreading, matted root system, forming clumps, 30-150 cm tall. Leaves broadly ovate (varying to narrowly lanceolate), 4–11 × 3–10 cm, sharply and coarsely dentate, acuminate. Dioecious (in Turkey), rarely monoecious. Male and female inflorescences

similar in form, to c. 8 cm, much-branched. Female flowers with prominent purplish penicillate stigma, inner pair of perianth segments finally accrescent to c. 1.5 mm, ovate, pilose over entire surface.

 

Flowering time: June−September.

Habitat: Forests, shaded ravines and rocks, margins of streams, 500−2700 m.

 

Reference:
Townsend CC (1982). Urtica dioica L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 635.

Public Description:

Urtica dioica, commonly known as “stinging nettle” or “common nettle”, is naturally distributed in Europe, Asia, North Africa and western parts of North America and subsequently spread to different parts of the world. It is a perennial herb with small pinkish-white flowers, up to 150 cm in length. It blooms between June and September and is found in forests, shaded ravines and rocks and margins of streams. Nettles are used for a long time in food, dye, fiber, fertilizer and cosmetic products. It has recently been shown to have antibacterial, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-colitis, anti-cancer and anti-Alzheimer effects. In folk medicine, it is also used as a diuretic agent and to treat arthritis and rheumatism. Nowadays it is an important medical herb and consumed as a component of the human diet due to its content of minerals, chlorophyll, amino acids, lecithin, carotenoids and vitamins.

 

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016) http://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1380714205_Asgarpanah%20%20and%20%20Mohajerani.pdf/Accessed date: 24.11.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urtica_dioica/Accessed date: 24.11.2016.

Ekim T (2012) Urtica L.,  In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 881–882.