Flower ID: IMG_0928.JPG-06-29-2017 Flower name (scientific): Laportea canadensis (Linnaeus) Weddell PY: 1854. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) lah-POR-tee-ah kan-ah-DEN-sis Flower name (common): Canadian Wood Nettle Family name (common): Nettle Family name (scientific): Urticaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named for Francois Louis de Laporte, Count of Castelnau (1810 - 1880). Specific epithet: Of or related to Canada. Common name origin: From the native habitat. The word nettle has a Germanic origin and is often used to denote plants of different genera with stinging hairs. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (0.3 to 0.5 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: white (male flowers), green (female flowers) Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-cyme Plant description: Erect Size: 16 - 40 inches (41 - 102 cm) tall. Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves are up to 15 or more cm long and up to 10 or more cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly to broadly ovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, forests, swamps, streambanks, shade or part shade, moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle) has some resemblance, but its narrow (13 to 38 mm wide) opposite leaves help to distinguish it from Laportea canadensis, which has alternate broad (up to 100 mm wide) leaves. Pilea pumila (Dwarf Clearweed) has some similarity, but it has long-stalked opposite leaves with 3 main parallel veins. Boehmeria cylindrica (Small-spike False Nettle) and Acalypha rhomboidea (Three-seeded Mercury, Rhombic Copper-leaf) have a minor resemblance, but both have opposite leaves and B. cylindrica lacks stinging hairs. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki employed the root as a diuretic. They also used the inner bark as a fiber material (Smith, pp. 250-251, 270, 1928; Smith, p. 77, 1923). The Ojibwe prepared a tea from the roots that was used as a diuretic and to treat urininary issues. They also used part of this nettle as a sewing fiber (Smith, pp. 391-392, 423, 1932). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Urtica canadensis Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 985. 1753. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na