Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Urticaceae ⟩ Urtica urens / small nettle

Urtica urens L.

small nettle (Urticaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadSlight tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

The presence of both stamens and stigmas (or fruits) separates Urtica urens from the dioecious stinging nettle, Urtica dioica.

Pyrton (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2017-04-17

 small nettle / Urtica urens: The presence of both stamens and stigmas (or fruits) separates _Urtica urens_ from the dioecious stinging nettle, _Urtica dioica_.

Urtica urens (right) is a much smaller plant than Urtica dioica (left); its stems have several grooves, unlike the 4-angled stems of U. dioica.

Pyrton (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2017-04-17

 small nettle / Urtica urens: _Urtica urens_ (right) is a much smaller plant than _Urtica dioica_ (left); its stems have several grooves, unlike the 4-angled stems of _U. dioica_.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne