Stinging Nettles
Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis
The photo above shows a good view of the upper
stem and opposite, paired leaves of stinging nettles. This specimen is subspecies gracilis var. lyallii. The stingers on the leaf
petioles and along the major veins on the undersurface of the leaf blades can
also be seen. Note also the large, coarsely toothed leaf margins and wrinkly
or netted surface to the upper leaf blades. Photographed about one mile east
of Crown Point along the old gorge highway..................April 15, 2006.
The photo above shows a close-up of the square
stem of stinging nettles along with a number of hollow, stinging hairs found
along its surface.
The photo above shows stinging nettles (ssp. gracilis var. californica) as seen along a small creek about 2 miles west of Biggs, OR..................October 7, 2006. Note that this variety seems to have narrower leaf blades than var. lyallii from the west gorge.
Stinging nettles (ssp. gracilis var. lyallii) as seen about one mile west
of the Troutdale Airport near the western entrance to the Columbia River Gorge................May
2005.
Stinging Nettles: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis var. lyallii as seen about one mile east of Crown Point along the old gorge highway..................April 15, 2006.
Paul Slichter