| Small Nettle (Annual Nettle) | Nettle family |
| Urtica urens | Urticaceae |
The Small Nettle is similar to the Stinging Nettle, but is smaller, less common, and an annual instead of a perennial. Other differences include male and female flowers being on the same plant (monoecious), a branched stem, the flower panicles being shorter than the leaf stalks, and the leaves being more deeply toothed.
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| Flowers and stinging hairs |
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Technical Information
Annual herb, up to 50cm tall Stems square, branched, covered with hairs Leaves opposite, longer-stalked, more deeply toothed than stinging nettle, covered with stinging hairs. Leaves shorter than stalks (unlike the Stinging Nettle) Flowers: green, no petals, 4 sepals and 4-5 stamens. Flowers hang in loose panicles shorter than the leaf stalks. Male and female flowers on the same plant (monoecious). Flowering time: June-September Habitat: Waste ground and arable fields, especially on light soils Distribution: Common throughout most of Britain |