Introductory
SPECIES: Urtica dioica | Stinging Nettle 



ABBREVIATION : 
URTDIO

SYNONYMS : 
   Urtica gracilis Ait. [13,24,25]
   Urtica holosericea Nutt. [53]
   Urtica procera Muhl. [13,54]


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   URDI
   URDID
   URDIG
   URDIH


COMMON NAMES : 
   stinging nettle
   American stinging nettle
   European stinging nettle
   hoary nettle


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name for stinging nettle is Urtica
dioica L. (Urticaceae) [15,17,21,28,49].  Urtica dioica is a polymorphic
complex in North America with a confusing taxonomic history; many
varieties and subspecies have been described including an introduced
subspecies from Europe.  Although formerly separated into four species
[13], most recent authors agree that the North American plants cannot be
distinguished at the species level from each other and from European
plants.  The following three subspecies are currently recognized
[3,17,21,28,51]:

	U. d. ssp. dioica (European stinging nettle)
	U. d. ssp. gracilis (Ait.) Selander (American stinging nettle)
	U. d. ssp. holosericea (Nutt.) Thorne (hoary nettle)


LIFE FORM : 
Forb

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
Jennifer H. Carey, February 1995


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Carey, Jennifer H. 1995. Urtica dioica. In: Remainder of Citation

Related categories for Species: Urtica dioica | Stinging Nettle