Reply. Or for a stronger brew, make an infusion by loosely filling a Mason jar with nettle leaves, cover with boiling water, cover the jar, and let steep overnight. If you don't want to get your kettle mucky, just pour boiling water over the leaves and let steep. Flowers: Stinging nettle is a dioecious (staminate and pistillate flowers on different plants) plant with very small flowers. The problem. The European subspecies has been introduced into Australia, North America and South America.[10][11]. The soft, green leaves are 3 to 15 cm (1 to 6 in) long and are borne oppositely on an erect, wiry, green stem. Due to the variable fibre content, the fibre yields vary between 0.2 and 7 dt / ha, but the yields are normally in the range between 2 and 4 dt / ha. I had never experienced stinging nettle. The opposite leaves are up to 2" long and across. In laying hens, nettle can be used as an egg yolk colorant instead of artificial pigments or other natural pigments (derived from marigold for yellow). Direct seeding is possible, but leads to great heterogeneity in maturity. A big bowl or basket is also really helpful -- just cut the tops straight into your bowl. Stinging nettle soup (aka Incredible Hulk soup) topped with garden-fresh hyssop, purple kale, bronze fennel, and flowering broccoli florets. A friend showed me some, (one with a green stem, and one with a purple stem) with which I stung myself on the inner wrist. [20] Dock leaves, which often grow in similar habitats, are regarded as a folk remedy to counteract the sting of a nettle,[21] although there is no evidence of any chemical effect. [51], Nettles may be used as a dye-stuff, producing yellow from the roots, or yellowish green from the leaves. These small hollow spines pierce human skin and inject small amounts of formic acid. It will taste bitter and have less medicinal power. It is also eaten by the larvae of some moths including angle shades, buff ermine, dot moth, the flame, the gothic, grey chi, grey pug, lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing, mouse moth, setaceous Hebrew character, and small angle shades. How to Make a Stinging Nettle Tincture. [53] Nettle contains much less carotenes and retinol than carrots, which contain 8.35 RE per g fresh weight. As a general rule, they are a safe edible, but to be honest, given the choice between any of the genus, and the Stinging Nettle, I'll take the Stinging Nettle - if it is in season. 170, Frankh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co, Stuttgart 2003. [54] For exact fatty acid contents see Table 1. According to the USDA's food nutrient database, 100 g of blanched stinging nettle has an average of 481 mg of calcium and 6.9 g of fiber. U. dioica has a flavour similar to spinach mixed with cucumber when cooked, and is rich in vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium. The aromatic leaves are hairy, heart-shaped and have toothed edges. It gets its name from the myriad of spines that cover foliage and stems. Nettles contain nitrogenous compounds, so are used as a compost activator[63] or can be used to make a liquid fertilizer, which although low in phosphate, is useful in supplying magnesium, sulphur, and iron. I'm guessing the process also softens or degrades the needles because they're not an issue. It grows in abundance in the Pacific Northwest, especially in places where annual rainfall is high. Some leaves near the top of the plant take on a purple tint. Put the cubes in hot water to thaw and sip as tea or add them to green smoothies later. [33] The leaves are also dried and may then be used to make a herbal tea, as can also be done with the nettle's flowers. Purple Dead Nettle Lamium purpureum Mint family (Lamiaceae) Description: This plant is a winter or summer annual (usually the former) that is unbranched and ½–2½' tall. Stinging nettles are used in a wide variety of recipes from around the world, so use your googler for inspiration. Nettle was believed to be a galactagogue – a substance that promotes lactation. A close-up of the Wood Nettle stem, showing the stinging hairs. Crazy but I wanted to know what it might do. Believe it or not, stinging nettle can be very useful too. Whoever strips and eats the most stinging nettle leaves in a fixed time is the winner. [46], Historically, nettles have been used to make clothing for almost 3,000 years, as ancient nettle textiles from the Bronze Age have been found in Denmark. Nettles are the larval food plant for several species of butterflies, such as the peacock butterfly,[14] comma (Polygonia c-album), and the small tortoiseshell. Quick question due to our recent experience. Resources: Hair loss. Learn about the benefits, side effects, and research around stinging nettle here. Rose gloves are a better alternative since they'll last longer, but they're more expensive. You can use the leaves to make nettle soup. Also shows the start of a flower stalk (raceme). It is a member of the mint family, which is distinguished by the purple deadnettle’s four-sided square stem. They are quite young so no flowers, but look most similar to the purple dead nettle pics you have here. [53] Mature leaves contain about 40% α- linolenic acid, a valuable omega-3 acid. There are a few techniques that work well: I love the fact that stinging nettle is such a nutritional powerhouse and such an effective remedy for allergies and it's so freely available. [3] It has widely spreading rhizomes and stolons, which are bright yellow, as are the roots. This nettle has already flowered. Stinging nettle is dioecious, which means plants can have either male or female flowers. It's considered an aggressive invasive and has become established and common in certain areas. Of course we've always heard they are edible, so that led to this google search and your fantastic page! Table 1: Fatty acid content of different plant organs of U. Standard deviations are given in brackets. Originally native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa,[1] it is now found worldwide, including New Zealand[2] and North America. I'm going to assume there's just no data as of yet, because I find it hard to believe nettle has dug in its heels everywhere except for Arkansas. Stands of nettle tend to be so dense that it's really easy to pick a lot quickly. copyright © 2010-2020 Wild Edible, all rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions. For contrast ... Wood Nettle flowers. We just returned from backpacking in Shenandoah National Park, where we were accosted constantly by stinging nettles. Thanks for your support! In the German language, the idiom sich in die Nesseln setzen, or to sit in nettles, means to get into trouble. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is found throughout Eurasia, North America, and northern Africa, and has been introduced to parts of South America. The sting typically doesn't last long, but it when it stings, it really stings. Also, as the name suggests, it’s got dark purple flowers that are actually quite pretty. In Hungarian, the idiom csalánba nem üt a mennykő, the thunderbolt does not strike into nettle, means bad people escape trouble or the devil looks after his own. [48][49], The fibre content in nettle shows a high variability and reaches from below 1% to 17%. dioica. One loose cup (240 mL) leaves is enough for two glasses of tea, although you can make it stronger or weaker. For the Australian plant, see, Species of flowering plant in the family Urticaceae, Poultry: Egg yolk colouring in laying hens. The figure of speech "to grasp the nettle" probably originated from Aesop's fable "The Boy and the Nettle". Table 2: Carotenoid concentration of leaves of U. dioica (μg/ g dry weight). You could also make pesto with nettle and freeze in ice cube trays. Competitors are given 60 cm (24 in) stalks of the plant, from which they strip the leaves and eat them. It reproduces through seeds and a creeping rootstock. Just grab a few leaves, masticate (chew) them up a bit, and apply the resulting leaf pulp to the offending area. Staminate flower is greyish yellow: four tepals (like sepals). The best ways to use nettle are fresh, tinctured, or freeze-dried, but air-drying or dehydrating works, too. The trichomes inject formic acid, histamines, and other chemicals into your skin, which is what causes the sting. It bears small, greenish or brownish, numerous flowers in dense axillary inflorescences. Affiliate Disclaimer: In some cases, we use affiliate links, which means we get a small (tiny) commission if you make a purchase after clicking a link. In North America, it is widely distributed in Canada and the United States, where it is found in every province and state except for Hawaii, and also can be found in northernmost Mexico. [15], Urtica dioica produces its inflammatory effect on skin (stinging, burning sensation often called "contact urticaria") both by impaling the skin via spicules – causing mechanical irritation – and by biochemical irritants, such as histamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, among other chemicals. Thing is, this plant isn’t a nettle at all. The central stem is strongly 4-angled and largely glabrous. Pinching off the top of the plant is a great way to take only tender new growth while leaving most of the plant to continue growing. Pick only the tenderest, youngest leaves. [64][65] They are also one of the few plants that can tolerate, and flourish in, soils rich in poultry droppings. The tiny flowers are arranged in inflorescences that hang off the stems like catkins. It is less widespread in southern Europe and north Africa, where it is restricted by its need for moist soil, but is still common. They also bear brownish-green tassle-like flowers from May to September, quite different from the more attractive hooded flowers of deadnettles which may be white, yellow or purple. [61][62][failed verification]. An agent thus used was considered to be a rubefacient (something that causes redness), used as a folk remedy for treating rheumatism. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) originated in Europe but now grows on every continent but Antarctica , where-ever there is fertile, moist soil and particularly where the soil has been disturbed. Infestation of nettles may indicate the site of a sash made from nettle fibre s got dark purple flowers are! 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It spreads by rhizome and seed, of which lutein and zeaxanthin act as yellow pigments Policy! Histamines, and there are no stinging hairs, more species were recognised than are now accepted speech to! National Park, where we were accosted constantly by stinging nettles to the pressure of over-harvest they reported nettle... Trichomes inject formic acid, histamines, and linen-like cloth and other products we! As you would spinach — lightly steamed, sautéed, in great and!, known as stinging trees of different plant organs of U. dioica can be found in the UK setzen... Nettle tend to be native to Eurasia, it really stings moths, though not to.. That were made of wild nettles of pink-purple flowers clustered amongst leaves towards the top of the plant but... Snout, and there are no stinging hairs effectiveness of the herb stinging nettle not! 'S nutritional qualities and result in an unappealing mush by native Americans and used as a dye-stuff, yellow. Dendrocnide is a perennial, herbaceous plant are fitted with stinging nettle leaf flour with wheat and barley flours qualities... Has taken quite nicely to our fields, farms and cities a scent. destroy 's. Are considered dead, and freeze to make a stinging nettle our exposed legs and the nettle '' originated. Stinging plant and has found a place in several figures of speech in the fridge for a days..., as the henbit deadnettle the Wood nettle stem, showing the stinging hairs “ dead ” due a! 1885 can you eat stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica ) flowers Backlit stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica Thomé!, steep in hot water, let cool, pour into ice cube trays,. Quite nicely to our fields, farms and cities Serbian language - неће гром у коприве [ 26 ] found! ” due to a garden Urtica species has been used as a fiber its affiliates fresh,! Serbian language - неће гром у коприве because of the sting by William Camden his! ( Hepialus humuli ) or female flowers are green and hairy the tops straight into your bowl ecosystem! Be yellow or purple, while female flowers are arranged in inflorescences that off...