Flower ID: IMG_0672.JPG-07-28-2018 Flower name (scientific): Urtica dioica Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) UR-ti-kuh dy-oh-EE-kuh Flower name (common): Stinging Nettle Family name (common): Nettle Family name (scientific): Urticaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: The Latin name for stinging nettle. Specific epithet: Having separate plants for the male and female reproductive organs. Common name origin: Nettle refers to a plant with hairs on the stem or leaves that can sting when touched, as is the case for this species. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (3 to 5 mm) Petal count: 4 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Whorl Plant description: Size: 18 to 72 inches (46 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 15 to 20 cm long and up to 4 to 13 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, elliptic, lanceolate, or narrowly to broadly ovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Disturbed sites, open woods, shade or sun, wet to dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Laportea canadensis (Canadian Wood Nettle) is a lookalike. The leaves can help distinguish the two species: L. canadensis has alternate, broadly oval, coarsely-toothed, hairy, long-stalked leaves, whereas U. dioica has opposite, lance-like (lanceolate) with a sharp point, sharply toothed, short-stalked leaves. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes in the Wisconsin region, but employed by a number of tribes to prepare medicines, as a food source, a dye, a fiber source, and for other uses (Moerman, pp. 579-580, 1998). Data reported by Moerman and others for subspecies of Urtica dioica should actually refer to the species Urtica gracilis. Latitude: 44.798463 Longitude: -91.481833 Altitude: 254.20 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, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Urtica dioica subsp. dioica (The other infraspecifics are Urtica dioica subsp. afghanica Chrtek, Urtica dioica subsp. gansuensis C. J. Chen, Urtica dioica var. glabrata (Clements) Ascherson & Graebner, Urtica dioica var. hispida (Chapman-Lam ex de Candolle) Tausch ex Ott, Urtica dioica var. holosericea Fries, Urtica dioica subsp. kurdistanica Chrtek, Urtica dioica subsp. pubescens (Ledebour) Domin, Urtica dioica var. sarmatica Zapałowicz, Urtica dioica subsp. sondenii (Simmons) Hylander, Urtica dioica subsp. subinermis (Uechtritz) Weigend. None of these infraspecifics have been recorded from North America.)