166 
FINDING NATURE’S TREASURES 
“I wish that I had some water to put on my legs. It 
would feel nice and cool,” said Buddy. 
“No, Buddy. Water would make your legs burn more,” 
said Uncle Jack. “It is also better not to rub them.” 
“What makes them sting?” asked Buddy. 
“Those weeds are nettles,” answered Uncle Jack. “They 
have hairs all over their leaves and stems. Each hair is 
sharp like a tiny needle. It has a hole through its center. 
At the bottom of each hair there is a tiny sac of poison. 
This sac is just under the skin of the leaf and so little 
that you cannot see it. The hair is so sharp that it sticks 
into your skin when you touch it. Then the poison flows 
into your skin through the hole in the hair. That poison 
makes your skin hurt.” 
“Why do they have such hairs, Uncle Jack?” asked 
Bess. “I don't think they are friendly plants.” 
“Those weeds do not want to be friendly,” laughed 
Uncle Jack. “They grow the poison so animals will leave 
them alone. You can see how all the weeds around us 
are eaten off except the nettles.” 
“There are some weeds in that low wet place over there 
that the cows have not eaten. Are they nettles, too?” 
asked Marylee. 
“No, that is a different weed,” replied Uncle Jack. 
“It is colored a much brighter green, and it is called 
smart weed.” 
“Is it called smart weed because it knows so much?” 
asked Bess. 
“Oh, no! That is not the reason,” laughed Uncle Jack. 
