Urtica urens

Urtica urens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Urticaceae
Genus:	Urtica
Species:	U. urens
Binomial name
Urtica urens L.

Urtica urens, commonly known as Annual Nettle, Dwarf Nettle or Small Nettle, is a herbaceous annual plant species of the genus Urtica. It is native to Eurasia and it can be found in North America and New Zealand as an introduced species. This species belongs to the Urticaceae family.

Plant uses

Urtica urens is an herb traditionally used to support the skin and soothe common itchiness. This herb has been studied with particular attention on its possible ability to support the skin^{[dubious – discuss]} when outside irritants are the cause^{[verification needed]}.^[1]

Since it has a larger number of stings for the area of the aerial parts of the herb, medicinal actions which rely on the use of the stings may render this species more effective than the more common Urtica dioica.

Organism interactions

New Zealand: U. urens is also a food plant for the New Zealand Red Admiral butterfly (Bassaris gonerilla, syn. Vanessa gonerilla, syn. Papilio gonerilla), and the Australian/New Zealand Yellow Admiral butterfly (Bassaris itea) ^[2].

References

1. ^ Mittman P. “Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis”. Planta Med. 1990;56:44-47.
2. ^ http://users.actrix.co.nz/dgedye/Butterflies/nettles.html

External links

Media related to Urtica urens at Wikimedia Commons

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile
• Flora of North America
• Photo gallery