Forum Topic

  1. Urtica ferox or urtica dioica

  2. 17/10/2016 8:15:07 p.m. Lynsey
    (Non-member from Marlborough District)

    I'm trying to identify this nettle. I was hoping it was urtica dioica or the common stinging nettle (so I could dry it and put it in tea or steam/boil it and eat it like spinach), but it looks more like urtica ferox or tree nettle which is endemic to NZ. Would love a second opinion as I don't have much experience with either.

  3. 18/10/2016 8:10:34 a.m. Peter de Lange

    This is the introduced Urtica urens. Its a very common weedy (introduced) species in New Zealand. You can also eat it. Urtica dioica is actually rather uncommon in New Zealand - its widespread and at times can be locally very common. The most I have ever seen of it was on Somes / Matiu Island -when it was a quarantine island (when the animals were taken off it virtually vanished). This is what U. dioica looks like - http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/2931575

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