A hairdressers nightmare

Not all hairs are soft to the touch.

This nettle has no flowers yet, thus processes itchy amounts of histamine upon the slightest contact with these hollow hairs.

When flowering the itching stops and you can risk rubbing the top side of the leaves with ease.

comments (3)

Ludo Sak

Lion

(background of this nettle leaf is a poppy's last breath, two leaves already on the ground) I had a slight itch as I touched one of the leaves:) Posted 13 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Nice closeup of these frisky plants! Posted 13 years ago
1. Ludo Sak
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! Posted 13 years ago

The Stinging nettle

Stinging nettle or common nettle, "Urtica dioica", is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant, native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America, and is the best-known member of the nettle genus "Urtica". The plant has many hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on its leaves and stems, which act like hypodermic needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation when contacted by humans and other animals.

Info 9 2

Similar species: Rosales

Species identified by Ludo Sak