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Common Name: Wood-Nettle
Scientific Name: Laportea canadensis
Family: Urticaceae
Pierson Falls Road
Polk County, North Carolina
June 29, 2002
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You may not want to examine this wildflower too closely; the "hairs" on the stem and leaves sting! The leaves are coarsely toothed and arranged alternately on the stem. Spikes of male flowers (those producing pollen) are found in the joints of the lower leaves. Female flowers (those producing seeds) are found in spreading spikes from the upper leaf joints and from the top of the plant. False nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) and richweed (Pilea pumila) resemble wood-nettle, but both lack stinging hairs. Formic acid and bicarbonate of ammonia are what give this plant its sting. Juice of dock plants (Rumex) is said to relieve the nettle's sting: "Nettle in, dock out. Dock rub nettle out." June - August [White, Peter, Wildflowers of the Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association, Gatlinburg, 1996]
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Alphabetical Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z
Family Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z
Genus Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z