Thanks, Nayan ji, Some extracts from Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinging_nettle
*Urtica dioica*, commonly called *stinging nettle*, is a herbaceous<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbaceous>perennial flowering plant <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_plant>, native to Europe<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe>, Asia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia>, northern Africa<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa>, and North America <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America>, and is the best known member of the nettle <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettle> genus *Urtica <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urtica>*. Stinging nettles are a dioecious<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_sexuality> herbaceous <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbaceous_plant> perennial<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_plant>, growing to 1-2 m <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre> tall in the summer and dying down to the ground in winter. It has very distinctively yellow, widely spreading roots, rhizomes and stolons. The soft green leaves<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf>are 3-15 cm <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centimetre> long are borne oppositely on an erect wiry green stem. The leaves have a strongly serrated margin, a cordate base and an acuminate tip with a terminal leaf tooth longer than adjacent laterals. It bears small greenish or brownish 4-merous flowers in dense axillary inflorescences. The leaves and stems are very hairy with non-stinging hairs and also bear many stinging hairs (trichomes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichome>), whose tips come off when touched, transforming the hair into a needle that will inject several chemicals: acetylcholine<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylcholine>, histamine <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histamine>, 5-HT<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-HT>or serotonin, and possibly formic acid <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formic_acid>. This mixture of chemical compounds cause a sting or paresthesia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paresthesia>from which the species derives its common name, as well as the colloquial names burn nettle, burn weed, burn hazel. Urtication <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urtication>, or flogging with nettles, is the process of deliberately applying stinging nettles to the skin in order to provoke inflammation. An agent thus used is known as a rubefacient <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubefacient> (i.e. something that causes redness). This is done as a folk remedy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_remedy>for rheumatism <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatism>, as it provides temporary relief from pain. Extracts can be used to treat arthritis<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthritis>, anemia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemia>, hay fever<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hay_fever>, kidney <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney> problems, and pain. Nettle is used in hair shampoos to control dandruff, and is said to make hair more glossy, which is why some farmers include a handful of nettles with cattle feed.[5]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinging_nettle#cite_note-4>It is also thought nettles can ease eczema. Cooking, crushing or chopping disables the stinging hairs. Stinging nettle leaves are high in nutrients, and the leaves can be mixed with other ingredients to create a soup rich in calcium<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium>and iron <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron>.[9]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinging_nettle#cite_note-8>Nettle soup is a good source of nutrients for people who lack meat or fruit in their diets.[10]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinging_nettle#cite_note-9>The young leaves are edible and make a very good pot-herb <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf_vegetable>. The leaves are also dried and may then be used to make a tisane<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tisane>, as can also be done with the nettle's flowers. 2009/1/29 Nayan Singh <[email protected]> > Hi Kumaran > your plant is Urtica dioca > Cheers > N.S.Dungriyal IFS > Chief Conservator of Forests > and Field Director > Satpura Tiger Reserve Hoshangabad > M.P. > 09424792100 > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Kumaran Sathasivam <[email protected]> > *To:* [email protected] > *Sent:* Thursday, 29 January, 2009 1:35:28 PM > *Subject:* [indiantreepix:8070] Plant at Binsar > > Could someone identify this plant please--it was growing wild at Basauli, > near Binsar, Kumaon in November 2005. As you can see it was covered with > fine hairlike spines. A slight brush against it gave me a burning feeling > that persisted for a day or two. > > It was locally called bichchu gaas--'scorpion plant'. > > Thanks in advance, > Kumaran > > > Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to > http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/ > ------------------------------ > Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Invite them > now.<http://in.rd.yahoo.com/tagline_messenger_6/*http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/> > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
