Urtica urens (annual nettle)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Hosts/Species Affected
- Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
- Biology and Ecology
- Natural enemies
- Notes on Natural Enemies
- Impact
- Uses
- Uses List
- Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
- Prevention and Control
- References
- Links to Websites
- Distribution Maps
Don't need the entire report?
Generate a print friendly version containing only the sections you need.
Generate reportPictures
Top of pageIdentity
Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Urtica urens L. 1753
Preferred Common Name
- annual nettle
Other Scientific Names
- Urtica minor Moench., 1802
International Common Names
- English: burning nettle; bush stinging nettle; dognettle; dwarf (stinging) nettle; nettle; small nettle; stinging nettle
- Spanish: ortiga; ortiga blanca; ortiga brava; ortiga chica; ortiga comum; ortiga menor; ortiga negra; ortiga romana; rupa chico
- French: ortie; ortie brulante; petite ortie
- Arabic: horreig; hurrayk; shar-el-aguz; zaghil
- Portuguese: urtiga menor
Local Common Names
- Brazil: urtiga
- Denmark: braende naelde; liden naelde
- Finland: rautanokkonen
- Germany: Kleine Brennessel; Kleine Nessel
- Iceland: brenninetla
- Italy: ortica minore; ortica piccola
- Japan: karafuto-irakusa
- Netherlands: kleine brandnetel
- Norway: smanesle; stornesle
- South Africa: bosbrandnetel
- Sweden: brannassala; etternaessla
- Turkey: isigan otu
- USA: burning nettle
- Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro): sitna kopriva
EPPO code
- URTUR (Urtica urens)
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Urticales
- Family: Urticaceae
- Genus: Urtica
- Species: Urtica urens
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of pageDescription
Top of pageDistribution
Top of pageDistribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 10 Feb 2022Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Africa |
|||||||
Algeria | Present | Original citation: Battandier (1888) | |||||
Djibouti | Present | ||||||
Egypt | Present | ||||||
Eritrea | Present | ||||||
Ethiopia | Present | ||||||
Lesotho | Present | ||||||
Mauritius | Present | Original citation: Baker (1877) | |||||
Morocco | Present | ||||||
South Africa | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Tunisia | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Asia |
|||||||
Iran | Present | ||||||
Israel | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Japan | Present | ||||||
Jordan | Present | ||||||
Lebanon | Present | ||||||
Saudi Arabia | Present | ||||||
Turkey | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Europe |
|||||||
Albania | Present | ||||||
Austria | Present | ||||||
Belgium | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Bulgaria | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Cyprus | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Czechia | Present | ||||||
Czechoslovakia | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Denmark | Present | ||||||
Faroe Islands | Present | ||||||
Finland | Present, Widespread | ||||||
France | Present | ||||||
-Corsica | Present | ||||||
Germany | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Greece | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Hungary | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Iceland | Present | ||||||
Ireland | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Italy | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Luxembourg | Present | ||||||
Malta | Present | ||||||
Netherlands | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Norway | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Poland | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Portugal | Present | ||||||
-Azores | Present | Introduced | 1972 | ||||
Russia | Present | ||||||
Spain | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Sweden | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Switzerland | Present | ||||||
United Kingdom | Present, Widespread | ||||||
North America |
|||||||
Bermuda | Absent, Eradicated | ||||||
Canada | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Alberta | Present | ||||||
-British Columbia | Present | ||||||
-Manitoba | Present | ||||||
-New Brunswick | Present | ||||||
-Newfoundland and Labrador | Present | ||||||
-Nova Scotia | Present | ||||||
-Ontario | Present | ||||||
-Prince Edward Island | Present | ||||||
-Quebec | Present | ||||||
-Saskatchewan | Present | ||||||
-Yukon | Present | ||||||
Greenland | Present | ||||||
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | Present | ||||||
United States | Present, Widespread | ||||||
-Alabama | Present | ||||||
-Alaska | Present | ||||||
-Arizona | Present | ||||||
-California | Present | ||||||
-Connecticut | Present | ||||||
-Florida | Present | ||||||
-Hawaii | Present | Introduced | 1909 | ||||
-Illinois | Present | ||||||
-Maine | Present | ||||||
-Massachusetts | Present | ||||||
-Michigan | Present | ||||||
-Missouri | Present | ||||||
-Nevada | Present | ||||||
-New Hampshire | Present | ||||||
-New Mexico | Present | ||||||
-New York | Present | ||||||
-Oklahoma | Present | ||||||
-Oregon | Present | ||||||
-Pennsylvania | Present | ||||||
-Rhode Island | Present | ||||||
-South Carolina | Present | ||||||
-Texas | Present | ||||||
-Vermont | Present | ||||||
-Washington | Present | ||||||
Oceania |
|||||||
Australia | Present, Widespread | ||||||
-Lord Howe Island | Present | Introduced | 1936 | ||||
-New South Wales | Present, Widespread | Original citation: George and (1989) | |||||
-Northern Territory | Present, Localized | ||||||
-Queensland | Present, Widespread | Original citation: George and (1989) | |||||
-South Australia | Present, Widespread | Original citation: George and (1989) | |||||
-Tasmania | Present, Widespread | Original citation: George and (1989) | |||||
-Victoria | Present, Widespread | Original citation: George and (1989) | |||||
-Western Australia | Present, Widespread | Original citation: George and (1989) | |||||
New Zealand | Present, Widespread | ||||||
South America |
|||||||
Argentina | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Bolivia | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Brazil | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Chile | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Colombia | Present, Widespread | ||||||
Uruguay | Present, Widespread |
Habitat
Top of pageHosts/Species Affected
Top of pageHost Plants and Other Plants Affected
Top of pagePlant name | Family | Context | References |
---|---|---|---|
Allium ampeloprasum (wild leek) | Liliaceae | Main | |
Allium cepa (onion) | Liliaceae | Main | |
Beta vulgaris (beetroot) | Chenopodiaceae | Main | |
Brassica napus var. napus (rape) | Brassicaceae | Other | |
Brassica oleracea (cabbages, cauliflowers) | Brassicaceae | Main | |
Citrus | Rutaceae | Main | |
Daucus carota (carrot) | Apiaceae | Main | |
Fragaria ananassa (strawberry) | Rosaceae | Other | |
Gossypium (cotton) | Malvaceae | Main | |
Humulus lupulus (hop) | Cannabaceae | Other | |
Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) | Poaceae | Main | |
Medicago sativa (lucerne) | Fabaceae | Main | |
Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) | Solanaceae | Other | |
Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) | Fabaceae | Main | |
Pisum sativum (pea) | Fabaceae | Main | |
Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane) | Poaceae | Other | |
Solanum tuberosum (potato) | Solanaceae | Main | |
Triticum (wheat) | Poaceae | Main | |
Vicia faba (faba bean) | Fabaceae | Main | |
Vitis vinifera (grapevine) | Vitaceae | Main | |
Zea mays (maize) | Poaceae | Main |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageSeed can remain viable for 20-100 years in the soil. Emergence is enhanced by soil disturbance and mostly occurs from within the top 2.5 cm of soil. Only 4% viable seed remained in the soil after 6 years of cultivation, compared with 39% viable seed in undisturbed soil (Holm et al., 1997).
Seed germination is optimal at 25°C and decreases rapidly at temperatures below 20°C (Andersen, 1968). Germination is greater in darkness than in light. Most seedlings appear in spring, but emergence continues through to mid-summer. Few plants emerge from late summer to early winter. Plants flower from late spring to autumn and are killed by frost.
U. urens is light-loving and dry matter distribution is not affected by light intensity. It is most competitive in full sunlight, whereas the perennial U. dioica is better adapted to shade (Corre, 1984). When drought-stressed, U. urens flowers several days earlier than normal and the number of nodes with inflorescences drops from eight to four per plant (Boot et al., 1986). Occasionally it flowers and sets seed when 8-10 cm tall and before the cotyledonary leaves have dropped off. Several successions of inflorescences are usually found on early emerging plants. Seeds formed early in the season may produce new plants in the same year.
Pollen release in the Urtica genus is unique. Immature stamens are bent towards the centre of the flower. When the anthers mature, the stamens suddenly straighten, shooting pollen into the wind. Plants are cross-pollinated and produce 100-1300 seeds weighing 0.5 mg each. Seeds are rich in oily endosperm and do not float on water (Holm et al., 1997).
Each stinging hair on U. urens is a tapered, elongated cell, constricted just below the tip, with a bulbous base embedded in the multicellular pedestal. When hit, the tip breaks off and the hair becomes a miniature hypodermic needle that penetrates the skin and injects its irritating chemicals. The tip of the hair is high in silica, but the silica concentration decreases towards the base, where it is replaced by calcium (Thurston and Lersten, 1969). Each hair is 100 µm long and has 10 µg of fluid that contains histamine and acetylcholine. Stem hairs have 2.5 times more acetylcholine than leaf hairs, whereas upper and lower surface leaf hairs have equal concentrations. The leaf itself has nearly as much histamine and acetylcholine as the leaf hairs. Crushed leaves can also give a stinging sensation, but are not as irritating as the hairs. The stinging reaction disappears within 1-3 hours for most people, but the hairs can remain in tissue and cause pain for 24-36 hours. Plants are not considered toxic to livestock, but cause the same irritating reaction in all animals (Everist, 1974).
Natural enemies
Top of pageNatural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Septoria urticae | Pathogen |
Notes on Natural Enemies
Top of pageU. urens is susceptible to arabis mosaic nepovirus and hop mosaic carlavirus (Brunt et al., 1996).
Impact
Top of pageU. urens is a weed of 27 crops in 50 countries and is a frequently reported weed of vegetables and orchards (Holm et al., 1997). Once U. urens appears in vegetable fields, populations can increase rapidly. In locations where U. urens was one of the dominant weeds in unweeded potato crops in Egypt, tuber yield was reduced by 40% (Abusteit and Shehata, 1993). Where it was one of the dominant weeds of faba beans in Portugal, yield losses were 29-34% (Fernandes, 1989).
U. urens is included in a catalogue of problem plants in southern Africa (Wells et al., 1986), where its impacts are listed as competition, replacement of preferred vegetation (indigenous), skin irritation, seed contamination and obstruction of access.
In Morocco, U. urens is an alternative host for Leveillula taurica, the causal agent of tomato powdery mildew (Besri and Hormattallah, 1985). Carnation ringspot dianthovirus and tomato bushy stunt tombusvirus were found on apple, pear, cherry, sweet cherry and plum in East German orchards and were also isolated from U. urens (Kegler et al., 1983).
Uses
Top of pageLeaf extracts of U. urens showed nematicidal properties against the citrus nematode, Tylenchulus semipenetrans (Mohammad et al., 1981).
Uses List
Top of pageEnvironmental
- Host of pest
Human food and beverage
- Vegetable
Materials
- Pesticide
Medicinal, pharmaceutical
- Traditional/folklore
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Top of pagePrevention and Control
Top of pageDue to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
Cultural ControlCultural control is effective, but handweeding is not recommended because of the plant's irritant properties (Whibley and Christensen, 1982). Selective mechanical weed control methods for several weeds, including U. urens, was investigated by Fogelberg and Gustavsson (1998). Emergence is enhanced by soil disturbance and the resultant seedlings can be controlled by follow-up cultivation or herbicides.
Vegetable cropping favours weed species which require only a comparatively short interval between emergence and the start of seed production, and whose seeds can germinate over a wide temperature range. Urtica urens is one of several weed species that can build up large seed banks during intensive vegetable production (Roberts, 1983).
U. urens is susceptible to control by flame-weeding (Ascard, 1995).
Chemical Control
Herbicide recommendations are available for most crops and situations where U. urens is a problem (Parsons, 1992), summarized below:
Asparagus: simazine
Aubergines, peppers: chlorthal-dimethyl
Beets: phenmedipham, chloridazon
Berry fruits: simazine
Brassica vegetables: chlorthal-dimethyl, metolachlor
Carrots: linuron, chlorthal-dimethyl, prometryn, propazine
Celery: prometryn
Cereals: linuron, oxyfluorfen (pre-sowing), glyphosate (pre-sowing), 2,4-DB, 2,4-D, MCPA, MCPB, metribuzin, methabenzthiazuron
Chickpeas, lentils, vetches: cyanazine
Citrus: simazine
Cotton: chlorthal-dimethyl
Faba beans (Vicia faba): metribuzin, cyanazine
Field peas: prometryn, metribuzin, cyanazine, methabenzthiazuron, MCPB
Garlic: chlorthal-dimethyl
Groundnuts: 2,4-DB
Hops: simazine
Legume vegetables: chlorthal-dimethyl, prometryn (beans, canning peas)
Lettuce: propyzamide
Linseed: MCPA
Lucerne: chlorthal-dimethyl, 2,4-DB, prometryn
Maize: linuron, MCPA
Onions: linuron, chlorthal-dimethyl, prometryn
Ornamentals: chlorthal-dimethyl, simazine (gladioli, roses)
Parsnips: linuron, propazine,
Pastures: dicamba/MCPA, prometryn, 2,4-DB, 2,4-D, MCPA, MCPB, methabenzthiazuron
Perennial grasses: chlorthal-dimethyl, prometyrn, methabenzthiazuron
Potatoes: linuron, chlorthal-dimethyl, prometryn, metribuzin
Sorghum: MCPA
Soyabeans: linuron
Stone fruits, pome fruits, grapevines: simazine, oxyfluorfen
Strawberries: phenmedipham, chlorthal-dimethyl
Sweet potatoes, yams: chlorthal-dimethyl
Tomatoes: metribuzin
Turfgrasses: chlorthal-dimethyl, MCPA
Non-crop areas: simazine, 2,4-D, imazapyr, glyphosate
Agamalian (1991) used N fertilizer solutions (liquid ammonium nitrate and ammonium thiosulfate) for selective control of broadleaved weeds resistant to soil-applied herbicides, including U. urens. Application of the N fertilizer solutions was most effective when weeds were at the 1-4-leaf stage.
Biological Control
Apart from the studies by Dal-Bello et al. (1993, 1995), there has been little consideration of the biological control of U. urens.
References
Top of pageAndersen RN, 1968. Germination and establishment of weeds for experimental purposes. Urbana, USA: Weed Science Society of America.
Asai Y, 1975. On a new naturalised weed, Urtica urens L. in Japan. Journal of Japanese Botany, 50(7):223
Baker JG; 1877, reprint 1970. Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles. Cramer, 125.
Battandier JA, 1888-90. Flore de L'Algerie. Algiers, Algeria: Libraire Adolphe Jourdan.
Britton NL, 1965. Flora of Bermuda. New York, USA: Harper Publishing Company.
Britton NL; Brown A, 1943. An illustrated flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Lancaster, USA: Lancaster Press.
Edgecombe WS, 1970. Weeds of Lebanon. Beirut, Lebanon: American University of Beirut.
Everist SL, 1974. Poisonous Plants of Australia. Sydney, Australia: Angus & Robertson.
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, 1997. Flora of North America, Vol 3. New York, USA: Oxford University Press.
George AS; ed, 1989. Flora of Australia, Vol 3. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Printing Service.
Hartley W, 1979. A checklist of economic plants in Australia. Melbourne, Australia: CSIRO.
Haslam SM; Sell PD; Wolseley PA, 1977. A Flora of the Maltese Islands. Msida, Malta: Malta University Press.
Holm L; Doll J; Holm E; Pancho J; Herberger J, 1997. World Weeds. Natural Histories and Distribution. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Jessop J, 1981. Flora of Central Australia. Australia: Australian Systematic Botany Society, 41.
Migahid AM, 1988. Flora of Saudi Arabia Vol. 1. 3rd edn. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Saud University Libraries.
Parsons JM(Editor), 1992. Australian weed control handbook. Melbourne, Australia; Inkata Press.
Polunin O, 1980. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Prain D, 1917. Flora of Tropical Africa, Vol VI. London, UK: Lovell Reeve & Co Ltd.
Roberts HA, 1983. Weed seeds in horticultural soils. Scientific Horticulture, 34:1-11
Thurston E; Lersten N, 1969. The morphology and toxicology of plant stinging hairs. Botanical Review, 35:393-412.
Tutin TG; Heywood VH; Burges NA; Valentine DH; Walters SM; Webb DA, 1964. Flora Europaea, Vol. 1. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Wagner WL; Herbst DR; Sohmer SH, 1990. Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawaii. Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Special Publication 83. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: University of Hawaii.
Watt JM; Breyer-Brandwijk MG, 1962. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. Edinburgh and London, UK: E & S Livingstone Ltd.
Wells MJ; Balsinhas AA; Joffe H; Engelbrecht VM; Harding G; Stirton CH, 1986. A catalogue of problem plants in South Africa. Memoirs of the botanical survey of South Africa No 53. Pretoria, South Africa: Botanical Research Institute.
Whibley DJE; Christensen TJ, 1982. Garden Weeds: Identification and Control. Handbook 3. Adelaide, Australia: Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
Zohary M, 1962. Plant Life of Palestine. New York, USA: The Ronald Press Co.
Zohary M, 1966. Flora Palaestina. Part One. Jerusalem, Israel: The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 186.
Distribution References
Britton NL, 1965. Flora of Bermuda., New York, USA: Harper Publishing Company.
CABI, Undated. Compendium record. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated b. CABI Compendium: Status as determined by CABI editor. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, 1997. Flora of North America., 3 New York, USA: Oxford University Press.
Haslam SM, Sell PD, Wolseley PA, 1977. A Flora of the Maltese Islands., Msida, Malta: Malta University Press.
Jessop J, 1981. Flora of Central Australia., Australia: Australian Systematic Botany Society. 41.
Migahid AM, 1988. Flora of Saudi Arabia., 1 (3rd) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Saud University Libraries.
Polunin O, 1980. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans., Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Prain D, 1917. Flora of Tropical Africa, Vol VI. London, UK: Lovell Reeve & Co Ltd.
Wagner WL, Herbst DR, Sohmer SH, 1990. Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawaii. In: Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Special Publication 83, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: University of Hawaii.
Zohary M, 1962. Ronald Press Co. New York. 262 pp.
Zohary M, 1966. Flora Palaestina. Part One., Jerusalem, Israel: The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. 186.
Links to Websites
Top of pageWebsite | URL | Comment |
---|---|---|
GISD/IASPMR: Invasive Alien Species Pathway Management Resource and DAISIE European Invasive Alien Species Gateway | https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m93f6 | Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list. |
Global register of Introduced and Invasive species (GRIIS) | http://griis.org/ | Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list. |
Distribution Maps
Top of pageSelect a dataset
Map Legends
-
CABI Summary Records
Map Filters
Unsupported Web Browser:
One or more of the features that are needed to show you the maps functionality are not available in the web browser that you are using.
Please consider upgrading your browser to the latest version or installing a new browser.
More information about modern web browsers can be found at http://browsehappy.com/