Family: Urticaceae Common Nettle / Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica Flowering time: June-August. Perennial. Very common throughout Britain and Ireland, especially on phosphate-enriched soils Whole plant is covered with stinging hairs releasing an irritant juice when broken. Dioecious yellow-green flowers in leaf axils. Spreads by means of fleshy, yellow rhizomes. An important food-plant for the caterpillars of Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral butterflies. Similar: Small Nettle, Urtica urens

   
Stinging Nettle, Urtica dioica
Holton Lee, Dorset. October 2012