Urtica urens L.

Spice Flower - fruit detail

Family: URTICACEAE

Genus: Urtica

Catalan common name: Ortiga. Ortiga petita.

Spanish common name: Ortiga menor.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones.

Characteristics: A small nettle with oval shaped leaves with deep- set teeth along the margins. It resembles Urtica membranacea, and shares the same habitat, although the flowers of Urtica urens completely involve the supporting peduncle, while the peduncle of Urtica membranacea is completely free of flowers for the inferior half. Flowers in spring.