Urtica dioica galeopsifolia
Encyclopedia
Urtica dioica subsp. galeopsifolia, the Fen Nettle or Stingless Nettle, is a herbaceous perennial plant found in Europe. It is either considered to be a subspecies
of Stinging Nettle
(Urtica dioica), or a species
in its own right: Urtica galeopsifolia.
Unlike most other nettles Fen Nettle has no stinging hairs or very few, instead being covered in fine, dense, non-stinging hairs. It has long, narrow leaves
, these being reminiscent of the unrelated Hemp Nettles, Galeopsis. Fen Nettle grows up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall.
Fen Nettle grows in damp, neutral
soil in habitats such as fen
s and on river
banks, often in dense stands. Unlike other subspecies of Urtica dioica, it is not associated with disturbed habitats.
Fen Nettle may interbreed with European Stinging Nettle
(Urtica dioica subsp. dioica), forming intermediate plants bearing both types of hairs.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle
Stinging nettle or common nettle, Urtica dioica, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant, native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America, and is the best-known member of the nettle genus Urtica...
(Urtica dioica), or a species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in its own right: Urtica galeopsifolia.
Unlike most other nettles Fen Nettle has no stinging hairs or very few, instead being covered in fine, dense, non-stinging hairs. It has long, narrow leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, these being reminiscent of the unrelated Hemp Nettles, Galeopsis. Fen Nettle grows up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall.
Fen Nettle grows in damp, neutral
Soil pH
The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions in solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it...
soil in habitats such as fen
Fen
A fen is a type of wetland fed by mineral-rich surface water or groundwater. Fens are characterised by their water chemistry, which is neutral or alkaline, with relatively high dissolved mineral levels but few other plant nutrients...
s and on river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
banks, often in dense stands. Unlike other subspecies of Urtica dioica, it is not associated with disturbed habitats.
Fen Nettle may interbreed with European Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle
Stinging nettle or common nettle, Urtica dioica, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant, native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America, and is the best-known member of the nettle genus Urtica...
(Urtica dioica subsp. dioica), forming intermediate plants bearing both types of hairs.