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NAME: Wood Nettle

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Laportea Canadensis / Urticaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  Canada Nettle

CONDITIONS: partial shade, moist soil
 

PARTS:

EDIBLE cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

TASTE

RAW/COOK

SEASON

All

 

 

 

 

Shoots

cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

spinach

COOK

Spring & Fall

Leaves

cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

spinach

COOK

Spring & Fall

Buds/Flowers

       

Fruits

 

 

 

 

Roots

       

Seeds

 

 

   

Nuts

 

 

 

 

Pods

 

 

 

 

Stalk

 

 

 

 

Bark

 

 

 

 

 

PORTION: average

 

COMMENT:  As with Stinging Nettle…Highly nutritious. New shoots appear in Spring and Fall.  Use young leaves before flowering, as vegetable or tea. “…soaking, cooking, refrigerating, wilting or drying neutralizes the plant’s sting.” (2) Also see Stinging Nettles.

 

CAUTION: As with Stinging Nettle, stinging hairs (but fewer) can be painful and last hours, use crushed or chewed leaves of jewelweed, plantain, or dock to help remove pain.

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:    As with Stinging Nettle…Young leaves - cooked. Very nutritious and with a delicious flavour, they are used like spinach (1) Birthing aid;  Diuretic;  Febrifuge. (1)

LOOK-A-LIKES:  Has wider leaves than Stinging Nettle. False Nettle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boehmeria,
Comparative photos with other Nettles and Horse Balm: http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/food/edibleplants/nettle/index.html

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:  White Snakeroot - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageratina_altissima 

 

OTHER USES:  A fibre obtained from the stem is used for making nets, cordage etc. It is up to 50 times stronger than cotton. (1, 3)

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

  1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Laportea+canadensis
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laportea_canadensis
  3. https://theasummerdeer.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/secrets-of-wood-nettle
  4. https://plighttofreedom.com/wood-nettle
  5. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Laportea+Canadensis&title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go