Stinging Nettles

Despite my somewhat wild childhood I had always avoided the wrath of the stinging nettle. It took all of 2 days in Norwich, UK for this to change.

Stinging Nettle - Urtica dioica

As I was walking my Uncles dog along the lake on the UEA campus, arms swinging lazily by my side, I suddenly shrieked in surprise! My right hand had found its way into the thicket of plants along the paths edge, which I very quickly came to realise was indeed a thicket of nettles.


The stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, is a herbaceous plant which can grow quite tall. All nettles are covered in tiny hair like structures called trichomes. In some subspecies these trichomes can pierce your skin and inject various chemicals causing the stinging sensation.

Nettles are used in a multitude of different ways, from herbal teas, to fabrics. In Kenya we use it in a dish called 'irio'. This is a stew of potatoes, maize and peas usually mashed together. The nettles are pureed and added to the mix turning it an interesting light green. It is then eaten with 'nyama choma' roasted meat, or a meat stew.

After subsequent knuckle grazes and even ankle stings I now walk very well covered and with my hands stuffed into my pockets. You probably should too!