A to Z challenge 2023 – U is for . . .

 

A to Z challenge 2023 – U is for . . .

My theme for this challenge is Nature in all much of her wonderful diversity. My posts will reflect the fact that I am resident in the south of England.

All photographs in this post are the property of the writer.

Urtica dioica

The plant usually known as stinging nettle has dark green leaves which, together with the stems, are covered in fine hairs, many of which sting on contact. Dock leaves are a traditional remedy for nettle stings and grow in similar habitats. Whether dock leaves really are a balm for nettle rash or they are a panacea that works because we have grown up with the belief that they will cure is open to discussion. If dock leaves do not have the desired effect, bathing the affected area with soap, milk or a weak solution of baking soda may help soothe the sting.

Urtica dioica is an herbaceous perennial that grows abundantly across the UK and forms large swathes of foliage up to 1½ m (5’) tall. Nettles grow from early spring and through the summer and many people like to pick them to use in soups or, once they’re cooked, as a peppery topping for toast. Apparently, the taste is similar to spinach.

A speciality in the north of England is, or used to be, nettle pudding. Essentially, it is porridge mixed with nettles. Some people enjoy nettle tea, claiming health benefits as diverse as the alleviation of hay fever to support for healthy joints and bones.

The best time to pick nettle leaves is when they’re very young and tender, about 30 cms (1’) tall. Whenever you pick them, use gloves. It is possible to pick nettles without being stung (I have done it, once or twice, as a dare, when younger and even more foolish) but it’s better to be cautious. They should not be picked once they start flowering, the catkins appearing from late spring to early autumn,  because the plant produces calcium carbonate which can be absorbed by the body and affect kidney function.

Look at those vicious little stinging hairs

Nettles are a valuable food source for aphids and caterpillars and thus attract ladybirds and insectivorous birds.

Historically, they have been used as medicine. In mediaeval times, nettles were a common diuretic and a cure for the pain of arthritis. They were traditionally used to control high blood pressure.

As with most things, there are superstitions and ancient beliefs associated with nettles. A nettle leaf held in the mouth will cure toothache; I can imagine that the mind would be mightily distracted from the toothache to more urgent concentrated pain in the tongue.

Nettle in flower

Nettles allow the carrier to predict the future and enjoy enhanced fertility as well as receiving protection from lightning. They also grant him or her courage. A hairbrush made from a bunch of nettles makes the hair grow faster and stronger, and one would certainly need courage to use such a brush.

A patch of nettles in the garden (or allotment) will attract butterflies like the red admiral, peacock and comma, which feed on the nectar from the flowers, and supply food for the subsequent caterpillars, which, in turn, feed the birds.

Have you ever smelt nettles? The flowers have no scent, but the leaves smell ‘green’.