Skye Flora

Urtica dioica

Photo © Carl Farmer
8 Aug 2002 Portree, Isle of Skye

Common on waste ground, beside paths, in ruined buildings and by the shore.

Leaf-blades c 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 c 1-1.5 mm long

Photo © Carl Farmer
8 Aug 2002 Portree, Isle of Skye

Photo © Carl Farmer
5 May 2002 Scorrybreac, Isle of Skye

Young leaves

Photo © Carl Farmer
2 Mar 2003 Scorrybreac, Isle of Skye

Young shoot from base of old stem

Photo © Carl Farmer
2 Mar 2003 Scorrybreac, Isle of Skye

Young shoot from some way up old stem