nettles

genus Urtica

Member of nettle family (family Urticaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

There are no other wild species of this genus in California.

great stinging nettle
Urtica dioica

iNaturalist is in the process of changing the North American observations to U. gracilis; I need to do more research to distinguish ssp. gracilis from hoary nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. holosericea)

50–300 cm tall
leaf blade 6–20 cm
inflorescence raceme- or panicle-like, generally > petiole
non-stinging hairs on abaxial leaf veins appressed
stem green

hoary nettle
Urtica gracilis ssp. holosericea

50–300 cm tall
leaf blade 6–20 cm
inflorescence raceme- or panicle-like, generally > petiole
non-stinging hairs on abaxial leaf veins erect
stem gray-green[?]

dwarf nettle
Urtica urens

10–60(90) cm tall
leaf blade 1.8–4(6) cm
inflorescence generally ± head- or spike-like, often < petiole

Toxicity of nettle, stinging (Urtica spp.):
1 – Skin contact with these plants can cause symptoms ranging from redness, itching, and rash to painful blisters like skin burns.

2 observed taxons / 1 unobserved taxon / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 35 (16 are research grade)

Locations:

Russian Ridge OSP: 7
Butano SP: 3
Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP: 3
Bear Creek Redwoods OSP: 2
Castle Rock SP: 2
Murray Ranch SP: 2
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area: 2
Andrew Molera SP
Coal Creek OSP
Huckleberry Botanic RP
Jacks Peak CP
Lake Chabot RP
Mt. Madonna SP
Mt. Tamalpais Watershed
Nisene Marks SP
Sam McDonald CP
San Pedro Valley CP
Sibley Volcanic RP
Stevens Creek CP
Windy Hill OSP
Wunderlich CP

Months:

Jan.: 2
Feb.: 1
Mar.: 4
Apr.: 1
May: 5
Jun.: 3
Jul.: 7
Aug.: 6
Sep.: 3
Oct.: 1
Nov.: 2

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora