permaculture

[Scott Pittman <pci@permaculture-inst.org>]

At 09:32 PM 8/4/00 -0400, you wrote:
> hi, 
>
> What is the actual botanical name for the nettle folks are talking
> about?
>
> I typed in nettle at Garden,com and was given a list of primarily flowers
> none of which looked like the plant I call a nettle.
>
> I have lots of wild flowers, and "weeds" on my property and
> would welcome 
> suggestions on how best to ID them. Most locals don't really seem to know
> the 
> actual names of common plants.
Well, nettles sting, and sting really painfully, making
small round bumps on your skin, that itch. Stinging nettle is used for
reducing arthritis symptoms - as the stings deliver relief from pain, and
after a short while one develops resistance to pain caused by nettle. One
applies fresh strong nettle to the joints daily in summer time. (Actually
I heard that ant bites are also good for arthritis treatment)

Nettles grow in clumps,  tall (3' +), with leaves growing from the
opposite sites of the stem from the same spot, with one big sharp pointed
leave accompanied by a small rosette of tiny leaves (all from the same
spot). They are blooming now, flowers are tiny green and look like tiny
balls hanging on a short string. The Latin name is Urtica 

Nettles are good for a tea (in mixture with other herb) to reduce
allergic reactions, as blood cleanser, supports liver function, is
excellent for compost tea and a must for many BD preps; the foliar spray
of Nettle tea reduces aphid infestations in a green house (I tried, it
worked), used for livestock forage, can be cooked with ( when young and
does not sting) - so one can hardly survive without a good nettle
patch.

Arina