PlantFiles: Roman Nettle
Urtica pilulifera

An annual or occasionally a biennial from Southern Europe but can be (rarely) found across most of Europe. Has opposite (located on opposite side of the stem to each other), toothed, ovate leaves. Bears both male and female flowers on the same plant but in separate clusters, female flowers are in spherical clusters, fruit is also spherical.

Flowers May-August and generally found on wasteland and woodland.

This nettle has the most viscious sting of all the nettles and is the species famously used by the Romans to keep warm. The nettle was steeped in oil and then rubbed on the skin. It is generally believed that it was the Romans who introduced this nettle to the colder parts of Europe