False Nettle

(Boehmeria cylindrica)

 

   

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica [L.] Sw.)

Identification: Flowers minute, green, arranged in upwardly curved spikes arising from the leaf axils. Flowers typically clustered in clumps along the flower spike. Stem and leaves without stinging hairs. Leaves in opposite pairs, ovate-elongate, with toothed outer margins. Plant 16 to 40 inches in height.

Distribution: Minnesota in the west to New England in the east, southward to Florida and Texas. Also occurs in the southwestern United States.

Habitat: False Nettle is found in woods and thickets on moist ground.

Flowering period: July to October.

Similar Species: The absence of stinging hairs easily separates False Nettle from either Stinging Nettle or Wood Nettle. Clearweed also lacks stinging hairs, but the flower clusters hang downward and are short.

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