Stinging Nettle
Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis
Synonyms: Urtica californica, Urtica dioica var. angustifolia, Urtica dioica var. californica, Urtica dioica var. gracilis, Urtica dioica var. lyallii, Urtica dioica var. procera, Urtica gracilis
The photo above shows the upper stem of stinging nettles as seen near Misery Campground at the northeastern edge of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in southeastern Washington.........July 7, 2008. Note the opposite leaves which are oriented at approximately perpendicular angles from the pairs found directly above or below them.
Individual leaves are roughly triangular in outline with large, coarse teeth around the margins. The main veins on the undersides of the leaves are armed with a few to numerous stinging haris.
Paul Slichter