Urtica incisa
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Urtica incisa, commonly known as scrub nettle and stinging nettle, is a species of nettle native to Australia. It is also sparingly naturalised in New Zealand. A member of the Urticaceae, this species is typically found in disturbed areas in various habitats. It was first described by the French botanist Jean Louis Marie Poiret in 1816. Its specific epithet, incisa, comes from the Latin incidere, which refers to the incised leaves.
| Urtica incisa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Foliage of U. incisa | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Urticaceae |
| Genus: | Urtica |
| Species: | U. incisa |
| Binomial name | |
| Urtica incisa | |
Description
Urtica incisa (stinging nettle) is a mostly dioecious rhizomatous species of herb growing up to 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches) in height. The plant is usually unbranched. The stems have stinging hairs or trichomes which are about 0.2–0.3 mm long.[1]
The leaves are light green in colour, usually 60–120 mm long and 15–30 mm wide, and shaped from triangular-ovate to narrow oblong. They are lightly hairy, with short stinging hairs which are about 0.2–0.5 mm long, and some stinging hairs found mainly on the underside veins. The petioles are usually 15–25 mm long.[1]
The inflorescences (flower clusters) are typically 24–40 mm long. The fruits are nearly circular and 1.3–1.5 mm long.[1] A peptide called Δ-Ui1a was identified in U. incisa by a 2022 study.[2]
Taxonomy
Urtica incisa was first described by the French botanist Jean Louis Marie Poiret in 1816.[3] There are sixty-nine species of the Urtica genus currently accepted by the Plants of the World Online taxonomic database.[4] These species are found throughout the entire world.[4] U. incisa is closely related to other New Zealand members of the genus Urtica except U. ferox.[5][6] Grosse‐Veldmann et al. (2016) constructed a phylogenetic tree of the genus Urtica based on gender characteristics and genetic sequencing.[7][5]
Etymology
The etymology (word origin) of U. incisa's genus name, Urtica, is derived from the Latin word for stinging nettles, which comes from urere, meaning to burn. The specific epithet (second part of the scientific name), incisa, comes from the Latin incidere, which refers to the incised leaves.[8] The species is commonly known as 'scrub nettle' and 'stinging nettle'.[8][9]
Distribution
Urtica incisa is widely distributed in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. It is also sparingly naturalised in New Zealand.[10]
Habitat
Urtica incisa is commonly found in disturbed areas in swamps and on riverbanks. Its altitudinal range is from about 0–250 m (0–820 ft) above sea level.[1]
Ecology
All Urtica species are pollinated by the wind.[11] U. incisa plays host to the yellow admiral butterfly (Vanessa itea).[12]
