Nettle
Nettle, stinging nettle
(Urtica -- Family Urticaceae)
Nettle can be found in the temperate zones of every continent. The greater nettle (Urtica dioica) grows to about five feet in height, while the lesser nettle (Urtica urens) reaches only about a foot in height. The lesser nettle is not just harvested as a wild herb; but in western Switzerland, it is cultivated as a vegetable. As the leaves soon wither, the four-inch plants are sold in pots so that the consumer can keep on harvesting the tender leaves for soups and salads. Both varieties have stinging hairs, which leave an itchy rash on the skin when they are touched. They are thought to be powerful medicinal herbs, and are surprisingly rich in vitamins and minerals -- as well as nitrates.
