Urtica urens

Small Nettle (Urtica urens )

The Small Nettle (Urtica urens ), also called pus nettle, is a plant of the genus of stinging nettles (Urtica ). It is widespread in Eurasia and in some areas of the world a neophyte.

Description

The small nettle grows as annual herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth of 10 to 60 centimeters. The simple, dark green leaf blade is usually less than 5 cm long, ovate - elliptical with wedge-shaped to obtuse Spreitenbasis. The leaf margin is serrated cut. The end tooth is not longer than the side teeth.

The Nettle is monoecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ). The inflorescences are usually shorter than the petiole. The flowers are unisexual. It is formed a single-seeded nut fruit.

Ecology

The Nettle is a summer annual plant. It burns more than the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). In Central Europe it is a archaeophyte, but dragged the world in temperate and warm temperate areas today ( cultural guides ). There is wind pollination. It is a heat to germinate.

Locations

The Nettle is scattered before weeds in the corridors of the dumps or in gardens, vegetable crops, at waste disposal sites, especially in villages. It prefers nutrient-rich, extremely nitrogen-rich soils.

After Ellenberg she is a half-light plant, a freshness indicator, an outspoken nitrogen pointer and a Klassencharakterart of ruderal and related field and garden Beikrautgesellschaften ( Chenopodietea ).

Use

Pharmacology

The therapeutic indications are similar to the stinging nettles (Urtica dioica). There are also the same plant parts used: The leaves, root, and in folk medicine, the fruit ( nettle seeds), so the whole plant.

It is used for hives -like skin disorders, gout, kidney disease, diseases of the musculoskeletal system as well as in case of allergic tendency. In anthroposophy it is usually combined with arnica used for burns, insect bites and sunburn.

Nutrition

The Nettle is in the kitchen versatile. The young shoots ( Harvest: April / May ) are cooked in vegetable dishes, fresh vegetable juice, raw and finely chopped herbs in butter, in salads, sandwiches, spinach, herbs in sauces, in batter as well as a dry spice use. The green seeds ( harvest: June / July) can be used as a sandwich filling or roasted and mature (September) as an additive to wine. The sheets can be used as an extender, flour powder snuff or dry spice again.

Other Terms

The Nettle is like the stinging nettle for chlorophyll extraction appropriate and therefore was used earlier for it. However, it is not suitable for fiber production, such as the Siberian hemp nettle, the reed - nettle or stinging nettle.