stinging nettle
Painful forest plant
A stinging nettle is a plant covered in fine hairs that inject an irritating substance when touched, causing a burning or prickling sensation on the skin.
The plant grows wild in temperate regions and is considered a weed, though young leaves are sometimes cooked and eaten or brewed into tea.
Contact with stinging nettles is a common childhood misfortune in areas where they grow.
I brushed against some stinging nettles on the trail and my arm itched for hours.
Raised itchy skin welts
- histamineAllergy-response compound
- itchingIrritating skin sensation
- burningCombustion in progress
- pricklingSharp tingling sensation
tingling · rash · welts · hives · redness · swelling · contact dermatitis · inflammation
Uncultivated edible leafy plants
- foragerOne seeking wild food
- wildcraftingGathering uncultivated natural materials
- blanchingBriefly boiling then cooling
- spring harvestEarly-year crop collection
gloves · sustainable · bushcraft · hedgerow · free food · seasonal · identification · preparation
Recurring each year
- herbaceousHaving soft green stems
- rhizomesHorizontal subterranean stem structures
- serrated leavesFoliage with pointed margins
- trichomesEpidermal outgrowths on plants
dioecious · inflorescence · seedlings · foliage · green · botany · flora · native species
Plant-based healing tradition
- tinctureHerb steeped in alcohol
- infusionSteeping to extract essence
- decoctionBoiled herbal concentrate
- anti-inflammatoryInflammation-reducing agent
antihistamine · diuretic · iron supplement · arthritis · hay fever · traditional medicine · tea · poultice
Black butterfly, orange stripes
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- pollinatorsOrganisms transferring reproductive dust
- beneficial insectsArthropods aiding agriculture
companion planting · wildlife garden · ecosystem · shelter · native plant
urticaria
Raised itchy skin welts
prickling · tingling · rash · welts · hives · redness · swelling · contact dermatitis · inflammation · discomfort
wild greens
Uncultivated edible leafy plants
- foragerOne seeking wild food
- wildcraftingGathering uncultivated natural materials
- blanchingBriefly boiling then cooling
spring harvest · gloves · sustainable · bushcraft · hedgerow · free food · seasonal · identification · preparation
perennial
Recurring each year
- herbaceousHaving soft green stems
- rhizomesHorizontal subterranean stem structures
- serrated leavesFoliage with pointed margins
trichomes · dioecious · inflorescence · seedlings · foliage · green · botany · flora · native species · invasive
herbalism
Plant-based healing tradition
- tinctureHerb steeped in alcohol
- infusionSteeping to extract essence
- decoctionBoiled herbal concentrate
anti-inflammatory · antihistamine · diuretic · iron supplement · arthritis · hay fever · traditional medicine · tea · poultice · capsules
red admiral
Black butterfly, orange stripes
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- pollinatorsOrganisms transferring reproductive dust
beneficial insects · companion planting · wildlife garden · ecosystem · shelter · native plant
fiber
Plant-based digestive aid
rope · spinning · weaving · natural fiber
sautéed
Cooked quickly in fat
nutritious · cordial · beer · cheese · pasta · risotto · smoothie · dried · powder
stinging nettlelamb's ear
Soft-leaved ground cover
aloe vera · chamomile · dead-nettle · healing herb · dock leaf
stinging nettlelettuce
Leafy salad vegetable
spinach · arugula · watercress · salad greens
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