URTICA MEMBRANACEA

Family and Genus:- See- URTICACEAE

Common Names:- Large-leaved nettle, Membranous nettle.

Homotypic Synonyms:- Urtica dubia, Urtica caudata,

Meaning:- Urtica (L) Sting

Membranacea (L) Membranous, membrane-like.

General description:- Monoecious annual.

Stem:-

1) 20-50 cm tall. simple or with a few ascending lower branches.

Leaves:-

1) 2-9 x 1.5-7.5 cm, ovate, acute or acuminate, subcordate or truncate at the base.

2) Stipules, 2-6 mm, ovate to lanceolate, scarious, connate, between the petioles of

the opposite leaves.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescences unisexual, 2 in each leaf axil;

a) upper, or all inflorescences male,

b) lower, or all inflorescences female.

2) Male, on the upper side of the compressed, inflated axis 1.5-5 cm, peduncle

0.5-2 cm;

a) perianth segments, c. 1 mm, ovate.

3) Female, in ± dense spikes or racemes 1-2.5 cm; axis not compressed; peduncle

0.5-2 cm;

a) inner perianth segments, to c. 1.5 mm in fruit.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, c 1 mm, oblong-ovate, punctulate, straw-coloured.

Key features:-

1) Stipules connate.

2) Male flowers on the upper side of the compressed, inflated axis 1.5-5

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Habitat:- Ruderal habitats, with high nutrient levels in the ground, such as villages,

animal enclosures, cave entrances or beneath cliff overhangs where livestock

congregate for shelter. 0-400(-800) m.

Distribution:- Fairly widespread on islands, on mainland Greece apparently

restricted to the south. Mediterranean parts of Europe, N Africa. On Crete mainly

confined to the west.

Flowering time:- Feb-May.

Photos by:- Enda McMullen