[Stinging Nettles: The Genus Urtica in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

American Stinging Nettle, Northwest Nettle, Stinging Nettles

Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis

Synonyms: Urtica dioica var. angustifolia, Urtica dioica var. californica, Urtica dioica var. gracilis, Urtica dioica var. lyallii, Urtica dioica var. procera, Urtica gracilis, Urtica lyallii

American Stinging Nettle, Northwest Nettle, Stinging Nettles: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (Synonyms: Urtica dioica var. angustifolia, Urtica dioica var. californica, Urtica dioica var. gracilis, Urtica dioica var. lyallii, Urtica dioica var. procera, Urtica gracilis, Urtica lyallii) - American Stinging Nettle, Northwest Nettle, Stinging Nettles: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (Synonyms: Urtica dioica var. angustifolia, Urtica dioica var. californica, Urtica dioica var. gracilis, Urtica dioica var. lyallii, Urtica dioica var. procera, Urtica gracilis, Urtica lyallii)

Two views 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.

Stem of American Stinging Nettle, Northwest Nettle, Stinging Nettles: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (Synonyms: Urtica dioica var. angustifolia, Urtica dioica var. californica, Urtica dioica var. gracilis, Urtica dioica var. lyallii, Urtica dioica var. procera, Urtica gracilis, Urtica lyallii)

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. Photographed about one mile east of Crown Point along the old gorge highway........April 15, 2006.

American Stinging Nettle, Northwest Nettle, Stinging Nettles: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (Synonyms: Urtica dioica var. angustifolia, Urtica dioica var. californica, Urtica dioica var. gracilis, Urtica dioica var. lyallii, Urtica dioica var. procera, Urtica gracilis, Urtica lyallii)

Stinging nettles as seen about one mile west of the Troutdale Airport near the western entrance to the Columbia River Gorge.......May 2005.

American Stinging Nettle, Northwest Nettle, Stinging Nettles: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (Synonyms: Urtica dioica var. angustifolia, Urtica dioica var. californica, Urtica dioica var. gracilis, Urtica dioica var. lyallii, Urtica dioica var. procera, Urtica gracilis, Urtica lyallii) - American Stinging Nettle, Northwest Nettle, Stinging Nettles: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (Synonyms: Urtica dioica var. angustifolia, Urtica dioica var. californica, Urtica dioica var. gracilis, Urtica dioica var. lyallii, Urtica dioica var. procera, Urtica gracilis, Urtica lyallii)

American stinging nettles as seen at Stiegerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge........May 10, 2022.
Paul Slichter