THE COMMON NETTLE. 11 



The remaining British species are the great, or 

 common nettle (V. dioica), which is too well known 

 to need a description, and the small nettle (U. wrens), 

 which is almost as frequent, and which may be dis- 

 tinguished, not only by its diminutive growth, but 

 also by the greater simplicity of the flower racemes ; 

 which in the common nettle are much branched ; 

 and, lastly, by the firmer and less flaccid appearance 

 of its whole texture. The sting is much more 

 severe than that of the common nettle; but I 

 scarcely suppose the reader to be so zealous in his 

 botanical pursuits as to attempt to identify either 

 plant by this test. I simply mention the fact; con- 

 cluding that he will, probably, take it on trust, and 

 shall, therefore, merely append the very character- 

 istic remark on nettles made by that quaint old 

 herbalist, Culpepper, who assures us that it is their 

 peculiarity, that they "may be found by feeling on 

 the darkest night." 



The fourth species, which is given as British by 

 the " Edinburgh Catalogue/' is the U. Dodarfii, or 

 Dodart's nettle, which is a native of the south of 

 Europe. 



Before quitting the subject of the nettle-sting, 

 I cannot avoid mentioning that, in common with 

 many other evils, it has a remedy within itself. 

 Its own juice instantly allays the irritation. And 

 we rarely see a bed of nettles growing without 

 some neighbouring dock -plants (Rumex), which, 

 as every little child knows, are a speedy anti- 

 dote to the poison, as is recorded in the old 

 charm with which peasant children accompany 



