Urtica urens

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Urticaceae Genus: Urtica

burning nettle, dog nettle, dwarf nettle

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual herb.

Stems: Stems erect or ascending with watery sap, unbranched or branched from base, 10–60(–80) cm long, glabrous or sparsely pubescent and with scattered, coarse, stinging hairs, hispidulous at nodes.

Roots: Taprooted.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades elliptic to ovate, (2.5–)4–13 cm long, (0.7–)1.5–5.2 cm wide, often larger toward apex of stem. Surfaces glabrous except with scattered stinging hairs; blades thin. Margins coarsely laciniate–serrate. 3–5-veined. Petioles 0.5– 4.2 cm long. Stipules prominent, lateral, distinct or connate and interpetiolar; oblong, 1–4 mm long.

Flowers: Flowers in axillary, racemose, paniculate or loose clusters but predominantly pistillate, 0.5–2(–2.5) cm long. Flowers unisexual (and the plants monoecious or rarely dioecious). Calyx of staminate flowers deeply 4-lobed, the lobes imbricate, hispid; Calyx of pistillate flowers 4-lobed, 1.5–2.5 mm long in fruit, ± sparsely hispid, margins hispid–ciliate. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens in staminate flower 4; filaments incurved in bud, elastically reflexed when pollen is shed; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior (pistillate flowers), straight, psuedomonomerous, 1-celled; ovule 1, basal; style 1; stigma sessile or nearly so. Staminate pistillode cup-like, ovary vestigial and sterile.

Fruit: Achenes deltoid; 1.5–2.5 mm long; smooth to slightly roughened with punctate dots. Seeds 1 per achene.

Ploidy: 2n = 24; 26; 52

Habitat: Pastures and subalpine forest.

Elevation Range: 790–2290 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Forestry

Pollinators

Notes

  • 790-2290 m
  • Description digitized by Alyssa Larson
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • in 1909

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 984 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1314 (H); Herbarium Pacificum Staff 1996:7 (O)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Urtica urens L. western slope of mauna kea, west of puu laau Open Sophora/Myoporum forest. Common in open understory in deep soil at bases of Myoporum trees. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN imada, c.t. char, w.p.; legrande, m.; morden, c. collector number: 2000-19 Hawaii BISH 9/24/2000
2 Urtica urens L. near pohakuloa, puu omaokoili PRESERVED_SPECIMEN kosaka, e. collector number: 3 Hawaii BISH 4/3/1962
3 Urtica urens L. Puu Heewai cinder cone, South Kohala District Growing in rock pile at base of gully in Dodonaea eriocarpa, Pennisetum setaceum - Rhynchelytrum repens scrub grassland. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cuddihy, L.W. Collector Number: 944 Hawaii BISH 12/3/1981
4 Urtica urens L. Puuohu. Near the dairy & also found plentiful at & near the stone wall of Mana house. (Parker Ranch) Growing w/cultivated plants. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Rock, J.F.C. 3169 Hawaii BISH 6/24/1909
5 Urtica urens L. Hamakua District; Pohakuloa Training area, along the Saddle Road between 30 mile & 45 mile markers, within 60 ft. of road PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Funk, E.J. PTA 23 Hawaii BISH 12/13/1990
6 Urtica urens L. Pali Hooukapapa, Upper Paauhau, Mauna Kea PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hosaka, E. Y. 1585 Hawaii US 9/8/1936
7 Urtica urens L. South Kohala District, Pu`u Heewa cinder cone PRESERVED_SPECIMEN L. Cuddihy 944 Hawaii US 12/3/1981
8 Urtica urens L. South Kohala District, Pu`u Heewa cinder cone PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cuddihy, L. W. 944 Hawaii US 12/3/1981
9 Urtica urens L. kamuela PRESERVED_SPECIMEN ewart iii, g.r. collector number: 302 Hawaii BISH 2/10/1934
10 Urtica urens L. Puu Laau. Growing near hunter's cabin PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 5183 Hawaii BISH 1/18/1975
11 Urtica urens L. south kohala district, pu`u heewa cinder cone PRESERVED_SPECIMEN l. cuddihy 944 Hawaii US 12/3/1981
12 Urtica urens L. mauna kea, near puu laau cabin PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 5943 Oahu US 7/6/1977
13 Urtica urens L. Puuohu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Rock, J.F.C. 3167 Hawaii BISH 6/24/1909
14 Urtica urens L. puu heewai cinder cone, south kohala district Growing in rock pile at base of gully in Dodonaea eriocarpa, Pennisetum setaceum - Rhynchelytrum repens scrub grassland. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN cuddihy, l.w. collector number: 944 Hawaii BISH 12/3/1981
15 Urtica urens L. puuohu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN rock, j.f.c. collector number: 3167 Hawaii BISH 6/24/1909
16 Urtica urens L. along access road to nuanuu pali state park above highway (tunnel) Roots at nodes in water. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hong, m. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 5/16/1995
17 Urtica urens L. mauna kea; kaohe game management area, below large fenced exclosure at puu laau PRESERVED_SPECIMEN davis, j. collector number: 703 Kauai BISH 2/26/1982
18 Urtica urens L. Near Pohakuloa, Puu Omaokoili PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kosaka, E. 3 Hawaii BISH 4/3/1962
19 Urtica urens L. s. kohala; waimea, puukapu, pookonaka paddock Naturalized along roadside & for several hundred yards down hillside. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hosaka, e.y. collector number: 2137 Oahu BISH 6/2/1938
20 Urtica urens L. kamuela PRESERVED_SPECIMEN yamayoshi, h. collector number: s.n. Hawaii BISH 1/19/1945
21 Urtica urens L. puu kapele Crater of cinder cone, ash soil. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fagerlund, g.o. mitchell, a.l. collector number: 520 Hawaii BISH 4/14/1943
22 Urtica urens L. along saddle road; 8.9 mi from jct. hawaii belt rd. (hwy. 190) PRESERVED_SPECIMEN wagner, w.l. mill, s.w.; lammers, t.; weller, s.; sakai, a.; davis-jacobsen, j. collector number: 5571 Hawaii BISH 6/25/1985
23 Urtica urens L. puu laau. growing near hunter's cabin PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 5183 Hawaii BISH 1/18/1975
24 Urtica urens L. Along Saddle Road; 8.9 mi from jct. Hawaii Belt Rd. (Hwy. 190) PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wagner, W.L. 5571 Hawaii BISH 6/25/1985
25 Urtica urens L. kamuela wooded stream bed PRESERVED_SPECIMEN yamayoshi, h. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 1/19/1945
26 Urtica urens L. Hale Pohaku, Mauna Kea, Hamakua District Growing beneath mamane tree near road in open mamane parkland. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cuddihy, L.W. Collector Number: 890 Hawaii BISH 10/6/1981
27 Urtica urens L. Hale Pohaku, Mauna Kea, Hamakua District Growing beneath mamane tree near road in open mamane parkland. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cuddihy, L.W. 890 Hawaii BISH 10/6/1981
28 Urtica urens L. Puu Heewai cinder cone, South Kohala District Growing in rock pile at base of gully in Dodonaea eriocarpa, Pennisetum setaceum - Rhynchelytrum repens scrub grassland. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cuddihy, L.W. 944 Hawaii BISH 12/3/1981
29 Urtica urens L. mauna loa forest & game reserve; pohakuloa training area, along military "kona hwy" In cinder & powdery soil in shade of Myoporum w/Dodonaea-Myoporum-Pennisetum-Sophora assoc. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN nagata, k.m. kimura, b. collector number: 1705 Hawaii BISH 7/16/1978
30 Urtica urens L. hale pohaku, mauna kea, hamakua district PRESERVED_SPECIMEN cuddihy, l.w. collector number: 890 Maui BISH 10/6/1981
31 Urtica urens L. Mauna Kea, near Puu Laau Cabin Growing w/Hesperocnide under a Sophora tree in sandalwood enclosure. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 5943 Hawaii BISH 7/6/1977
32 Urtica urens L. mauna kea; upper paaauhau, pali hooukapapa Occasional, in pasture. Localized. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hosaka, e.y. collector number: 1585 Hawaii BISH 9/8/1936
33 Urtica urens L. Puu Kapele Crater of cinder cone, ash soil. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fagerlund, G.O. 520 Hawaii BISH 4/14/1943
34 Urtica urens L. hamakua district; pohakuloa training area, along the saddle road between 30 mile & 45 mile markers, within 60 ft. of road PRESERVED_SPECIMEN funk, e.j. collector number: pta 23 Hawaii BISH 12/13/1990
35 Urtica urens L. Kamuela PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Ewart III, G.R. 302 Hawaii BISH 2/10/1934
36 Urtica urens L. East Maui, Makawao, Brewer Rd PRESERVED_SPECIMEN L. Cuddihy 944 Maui HAPI 12/3/1981
37 Urtica urens L. Western slope of Mauna Kea, west of Puu Laau Open Sophora/Myoporum forest. Common in open understory in deep soil at bases of Myoporum trees. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Imada, C.T. 2000-19 Hawaii BISH 9/24/2000
38 Urtica urens L. puuohu. near the dairy & also found plentiful at & near the stone wall of mana house. (parker ranch) Growing w/cultivated plants. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN rock, j.f.c. collector number: 3169 Hawaii BISH 6/24/1909
39 Urtica urens L. pali hooukapapa, upper paauhau, mauna kea PRESERVED_SPECIMEN e. y. hosaka 1585 Oahu BISH 9/8/1936
40 Urtica urens L. Mauna Loa Forest & Game Reserve; Pohakuloa Training Area, along military "Kona Hwy" In cinder & powdery soil in shade of Myoporum w/Dodonaea-Myoporum-Pennisetum-Sophora assoc. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K.M. 1705 Hawaii BISH 7/16/1978
41 Urtica urens L. Mauna Kea; Upper Paaauhau, Pali Hooukapapa Occasional, in pasture. Localized. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hosaka, E.Y. 1585 Hawaii BISH 9/8/1936
42 Urtica urens L. Along access road to Nuanuu Pali State Park above highway (tunnel) Roots at nodes in water. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hong, M. s.n. Oahu BISH 5/16/1995
43 Urtica urens L. Mauna Kea; Kaohe Game Management Area, below large fenced exclosure at Puu Laau Large patch 10 x 15 ft. beneath naio trees. Numerous seedlings. Frequently seen herb. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Davis, J. 703 Hawaii BISH 2/26/1982
44 Urtica urens L. Western slope of Mauna Kea, west of Puu Laau Open Sophora/Myoporum forest. Common in open understory in deep soil at bases of Myoporum trees. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Imada, C.T. Char, W.P.; LeGrande, M.; Morden, C. Collector Number: 2000-19 Hawaii BISH 9/24/2000