Skye Flora

Urtica dioecia

Photo © Carl Farmer
8 Aug 2002 Portree

Common on waste ground, beside paths, in remains of old buildings and beside the shore.

Leaf-blades 4-8 cm

Skye ID: Male and female flowers on separate plants.

Other features: Also differs from Annual Nettle in the following ways:

• Perennial, shoots joined by creeping stems or roots

• Painful sting

• Flower spikes several cm long

• Leaf normally has end tooth notably longer than adjoining side teeth

• No or very short side-branches

• Fruit 1-1.5 mm long

Photo © Carl Farmer
8 Aug 2002 Portree

Photo © Carl Farmer
5 May 2002 Scorrybreac

Photo © Carl Farmer
2 Mar 2003 Scorrybreac
 

Photo © Carl Farmer
2 Mar 2003 Scorrybreac