WOOD NETTLE

WOOD NETTLE

Laportea canadensis
NETTLE FAMILY (Urticaceae)

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This native perennial grows to about 5 feet tall; stems and leaves are armed with stinging hairs. The large oval and pointed leaves are on long stalks alternating on the stem; they form a canopy (A). The tiny male and female flowers are on separate clusters growing from the upper leaf axils; whitish male flowers below, green female flowers above (A,B). The fruit is a black seed (C). Identified by the green and whitish flower clusters at the upper parts of the leaf canopy and by the stinging hairs. Compare to the description for Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica); it has flower clusters in the axils of narrower leaves which are opposite on the stem.

Grows in moist woodlands, flowering from July through September. In Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods, common along woodland trails and in ravines. During July and August, much of the forest floor below the Riverview Boardwalk will be covered by Wood Nettle.

The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.