The Stinging Nettle is known to most people who have no knowledge at all of matters botanical. They also believe that the antidote is to rub the sting with a dock leaf - more problematic as these same folk don't know what a dock looks like. This plant now grows all over the country and has infested many of our country verges where the nutrients from agricultural fertilisers are very much to its liking. Tall perennial like U. dioica then swamp the smaller plants which disappear from our country lanes. It should be good for Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral both of which are supposed to use it as a food plant - but I rarely see caterpillars on nettles.
Gaitbarrows, 20th July 2004
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Added on November 8th 2004, amended on February 5th 2005