Stinging nettle is not equal to stinging nettle. While more than 30 species are distributed around the world, only 4 species can be found in this country. These representatives of the stinging nettle family are examined closely here…
The common stinging nettle is the most common here
The Great Nettle
The most well-known in Germany is the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). As its name suggests, it grows up to 3 m high and, like its fellow species, can be used as a medicinal plant.
Its leaves are dark green, serrate at the edges and it presents paniculate inflorescences between July and October. In contrast to those of the other nettle species, the flowers are dioecious, i. H. there are male and female flowers.
The Little Nettle
The second most common nettle species in Germany is the small nettle (Urtica urens). Your characteristics:
- 15 to 45 cm (rarely up to 60 cm) high
- Occurrence: Paths, fields, meadows, gardens
- without underground root runners in contrast to the common nettle
- 3 to 5 cm long, ovate-elliptical, serrated leaves with incised edges
- hermaphrodite flowers
The reed nettle
In the Havel area and outside of Germany in many parts of Eastern Europe, the reed nettle is increasingly found. She has no bristle hairs, but stinging hairs. Due to the lack of bristles, their leaves appear shiny. They have long stalks and the panicle-shaped inflorescences appear between July and August. As a rule, it is 30 to 60 cm high.
The pill nettle and other species
The pill stinging nettle, which originally comes from the Mediterranean region and is widespread as far as south-west Asia, is very rarely found in Germany. Also known as Roman nettle. It is one to two years old and grows up to 1 m high. Its flowering time is between April and October.
Elsewhere in the world you'll find Siberian hemp nettle, tailed nettle and Mallorcan nettle, to name just a few. They all have stinging hairs that cause wheals when touched or harvested.
tips
If you want to fight nettles, you should first find out what kind it is. For example, the small stinging nettle is much easier to destroy than the large stinging nettle, which spreads quickly via root suckers.