232, FLOWERS OF THE ROADSIDES AND HEDGES 
The flowers are in axillary panicled spikes, in pairs, the males in loose 
panicles, the females dense, bent back. The fruit is small, with a flat 
border. It is 2-4 ft. in height. Flowers are to be met with between 
July and September. The plant is perennial, propagated by cuttings. 
The plant is dicecious (hence dozca) or unisexual. The stamens 
are elastic; in bud they are curled inwards, The anthers, which are 
borne on kidney-shaped anther-stalks, open by the coiling of the stalks 
in bud and the opening of the calyx, and when they uncoil they spring 
out and disperse the pollen in a small cloud. They open in the sun, 
and the discharge of pollen goes on for half an hour. The flowers are 
wind-pollinated. 
The fruit is small, and when ripe falls to the ground or is blown 
away by the wind. 
Addicted to a sand soil, the Nettle is a sand-loving plant. 
The first stage of a fungus, Paccinza caricis, grows on this, the 
second on a sedge. Uvomyces urtice, Peronospora urtice, also grow 
on it. It is infested by Dodder (Cuscuta europea), and galled by 
Cecidomyia urtice, Several beetles, Brachypterus urtice, 7 hyamits 
exoleta, Demetrius atricapillus, Halyzia punctata, Meligethes lumbaris, 
Elater sanguinolentus, Longitarsus luridus, Crepidodera ferruginea; 
the Lepidoptera, Small Tortoise Shell (Vanessa urtice), Red Admiral 
(V. atalanta), Peacock (V. 20), Comma (Grapta c-album), Ghost Swift 
(Hepialus humul’), Reddish Buff (Phragmatobza caliginosa), Light 
Spectacle (Aévostola urtice), Burnished Brass (Plusza chrysitis), Scarlet 
Tiger (Callimorpha dominula), Botys verticals, B. urticata, Choreutrs 
fabriciana, &c.; Heteroptera, Sehirus bicolor, Heterogaster urtice, 
Scolopostethus affinis, Nabis rugosus, Lygus pabulinus, Peciloscytus 
gyvllenhalii, Capsus laniarius; and the Homoptera, Lupteryx urtice, 
E. auratus, Trioza urtice, feed upon it. 
Urtica, Pliny, is from the Latin 270, I burn, and the second Latin 
name refers to its dicecious character. 
This plant is called Naughty Man’s Plaything, Nettle, Stinging 
Nettle, Scaddie, Stingy Nettle, Tinging Nettle. 
Nettles are thrown on the fire to guard against lightning, It is 
called Devil's Apron because associated with the evil one, and it was 
believed it could drive away evil spirits. There is a proverb for those 
who in spite of every kindness are themselves the reverse: “ He that 
handles a nettle tenderly is soonest stung”. Peasants use nettle tea as 
a remedy for nettle-rash, and the tops cut in June for a nettle broth. 
When carried about the person it was said to drive away fear, and so 
worn in time of danger. ; 
