{"id":17012,"date":"2022-05-27T08:00:12","date_gmt":"2022-05-27T06:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=46482"},"modified":"2022-05-27T08:49:14","modified_gmt":"2022-05-27T06:49:14","slug":"nettle-guide-why-it-stings-whether-dock-leaves-help-and-foraging-recipes","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/nettle-guide-why-it-stings-whether-dock-leaves-help-and-foraging-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"Nettle guide: why it stings, whether dock leaves help, and foraging recipes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Megan Shersby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 27 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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If you\u2019ve ever been stung, you may not be a big fan of nettles, but they are actually a great source of food and shelter for wildlife, from butterflies and aphids, to corncrakes.<\/p>\n

However large and thick nettle patches can be a symptom of air pollution levels \u2013 which boosts the levels of nitrogen in the soil.<\/p>\n

You decide to risk the stings and forage for nettles (don\u2019t forget to wear gloves). The cooking process breaks down the stinging hairs, and the leaves are versatile and can be used to make soup, pesto, beer and tea.<\/p>\n

What is the scientific name of the stinging nettle?<\/h2>\n

The scientific name of the stinging nettle, also known as the common nettle, is Urtica dioica<\/em>.<\/p>\n

There are six subspecies of the stinging nettle.<\/p>\n

How do nettles sting?<\/h2>\n

Stinging hairs of nettles are hollow, pointed cells with a tip made of pure silica, which breaks leaving a jagged point when you brush against it. The nettle sting contains irritants \u2013 mainly formic acid and histamines \u2013 that are injected into the surface layer of the skin cells.<\/p>\n

Why are plants hairy?<\/h3>\n

Plant hairs, also called trichomes, are like a smart botanical equivalent of mini, multi- talented octopus arms wielding an armoury of secret chemical and physical weapons and shields. These living cells read and respond to their environment.<\/p>\n

Their various uses mean they may be branched, star-shaped, straight, barbed, curly, sticky or poisonous gland-tipped \u2013 or even umbrella-like, as in the incredible tree- dwelling bromeliads whose tiny trichomes open when it\u2019s dry to reduce evaporation and close during rain to absorb water.<\/p>\n

Those on roots help draw up minerals and water, while hooked stem, fruit and leaf hairs disperse seeds on passing animals. Some help capture prey in carnivorous sundews, others deter the tiniest and largest insect grazers with physical barriers and protect against strong light, cold, wind and water loss.<\/p>\n

The nettle family\u2019s needle-like hairs are hollow and loaded with toxic histamine, serotonin and formic acid capable of causing pain, itching and inflammation when a fragile silica tip pierces skin.<\/p>\n

This Q&A originally appeared in <\/em>BBC Wildlife, and was answered by Christian Dunn<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Do dock leaves really help with nettle stings?<\/h2>\n

It is often claimed that crushed dock leaves relieve the pain because their alkaline sap neutralises the nettle\u2019s formic acid, but dock leaf sap is acidic too, so this cannot be true. Nevertheless, many find that the dock leaf remedy seems to work, so there may be other reasons for this.<\/p>\n

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Dock leaves are often found growing near stinging nettles. \u00a9 Elva Etienne\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

One possibility is that dock leaf juice evaporating from the skin may have a surface cooling effect on the burning sensation. Another is that dock leaves might contain natural antihistamines that reduce the irritation, though none have been identified. The placebo effect, where faith in the efficacy of dock juice might lower the perception of the sting symptoms, cannot be discounted either.<\/p>\n

How to treat stinging nettle stings<\/h3>\n

If you really want to neutralise the effect of the nettle sting\u2019s acid and dock leaves don\u2019t work, try treating it with soap, milk or a dilute solution of baking soda, all of which are alkaline.<\/p>\n

This Q&A originally appeared in <\/em>BBC Wildlife, and was answered by Phil Gates<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Do all stinging nettles sting?<\/h2>\n

No, there is a stinging nettle subspecies (sometimes considered as a separate species) called the stingless nettle or fen nettle\u00a0(Urtica dioica galeopsifolia<\/em>). It lacks, or has very few of, the stinging hairs \u2013 and has stingless hairs instead. The leaves are also narrower than stinging nettles.<\/p>\n

One of the best places to find stingless nettles is at the National Trust\u2019s Wicken Fen reserve in Cambridgeshire.<\/p>\n

Can stinging nettles be eaten raw?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not recommended that stinging nettles are eaten raw \u2013 as they\u2019ll sting you!<\/p>\n

However, some brave and hardy (maybe foolhardy?) do eat them raw in the\u00a0World Nettle Eating Championships. This event takes place at the Bottle Inn, in the village of Marshwood in Dorset, and apparently began after two farmers argued over who had the longest nettles in his yard (what a thing to argue over!). The loser then had to eat a stalk of nettles.<\/p>\n

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A competitor during the nettle eating competition at The Bottle Inn on July 27, 2019 in Marshwood, England. \u00a9 Finnbarr Webster\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Those partaking in this competition have an hour to do so, and cannot vomit \u2013 if they do, they\u2019re out of the competition. 2-foot long nettles are provided by the competition organisers (so participants couldn\u2019t get away with bringing some of these stingless nettles mentioned above!), and water and beer are also provided. The nettles are soaked overnight to keep them fresh and able to sting.<\/p>\n

In 2019, more than 100 spectators watched as Tony Jeyes ate 58ft of nettles (winning the men\u2019s category) and Lindie Rogers (pictured below<\/em>) ate 44ft (winning the women\u2019s category). Neither came close to the 2018 champion Philip Thorne who ate 104ft (following 86ft in 2016, and 80ft in 2014).<\/p>\n

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Woman\u2019s winner Lindie Rogers during the World Nettle Eating Championships at The Bottle Inn on July 27, 2019. \u00a9 Finnbarr Webster\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The hairs of stinging nettles are broken down during the cooking process, and when blended for a smoothie.<\/p>\n

Can clothing be made from nettles?<\/h2>\n

People have been wearing nettle fibre for centuries. Napoleon\u2019s soldiers wore a uniform made from nettles, as did did the German army in World War I. Nettles make effective clothing because their stems contain long, soft fibres that are naturally strong and elastic, and even have fire-retardant properties.<\/p>\n

As a crop, nettle is more environmentally friendly than cotton: it is fast growing, can be cultivated on sites unsuitable for other crops, gives high yields, requires no herbicides (as it outcompetes its fellow weeds) and provides vital habitat for many pollinating insects. There are now moves to utilise nettle fibre in the modern fashion world.<\/p>\n

This Q&A originally appeared in <\/em>BBC Wildlife, and was answered by Christian Dunn<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Which species are nettles good for?<\/h2>\n

Corncrake (Crex crex<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A corncrake calling. \u00a9 Wojciech Sobiesiak\/500px\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Until World War II, the bizarre grating song of corncrakes drifted across much of lowland Britain and Ireland on May and June nights. Nowadays, most of our breeding \u2018land rails\u2019 are confined to traditional hay fields in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, County Donegal and Connemara, where the elusive birds skulk in lush nettle and iris beds.<\/p>\n

But since 2005 there has also been a thriving reintroduced population in the Nene Washes, near Peterborough, with 22 singing males in 2014. To hear their unique nocturnal chorus, walk east or west from Eldernell along the Nene Way. Arrive early and you can enjoy summer- plumaged black-tailed godwits \u2013 90% of the British population nests here.<\/p>\n

The scientific name of the corncrake, Crex crex<\/em>, is an example of a tautonym<\/a>, where the genus and species epithet are the same.<\/p>\n

Butterfly and moth caterpillars<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A small tortoiseshell butterfly caterpillar feeds on a nettle leaf. \u00a9 Sandra Standbridge\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Nettles are a caterpillar food plan<\/a>t for a variety of butterfly species, including\u00a0small tortoiseshell, red admiral, peacock, painted lady and comma. The plant is also good for moth caterpillars, such as\u00a0small magpie, burnished brass, mother-of-pearl and spectacle!<\/p>\n

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Peacock butterfly eggs on the underside of a nettle leaf. \u00a9 Paul Starosta\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Foraging recipes with nettles:<\/h2>\n

How to make apple and nettle smoothie<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Nettle smoothie. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Creamy and sweet \u2013 this apple and nettle smoothie is an unexpectedly delicious way to get nettle goodness into your daily diet.<\/p>\n

How to make nettle gnocchi<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Stinging nettle gnocchi. \u00a9 Piga & Catalano s.n.c\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

These gnocchi are served with a nettle pesto<\/a> or a tomato and nettle sauce, and are especially tasty with plenty of butter and topped with toasted pine nuts and grated Parmesan.<\/p>\n

How to make nettle beer<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Writer and wild brewer Pascal Baudar shares his recipe for making nettle beer.<\/p>\n

How to make nettle soup<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Nettle soup. \u00a9 Sanjida O\u2019Connell<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

This gorgeous, velvet-green soup has a mineral taste, like strong spinach.<\/p>\n

How to make crispy fried stinging nettles<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Make these tasty crispy stinging nettles to serve as a side dish, following a recipe on the BBC Countryfile Magazine<\/em> website.<\/p>\n

How to make nettle pesto<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Nettle pesto can be made very simply \u2013 all you need to do is substitute cooked nettle leaves for the basil or baby spinach you\u2019d normally use. Follow this recipe on the BBC Countryfile Magazine<\/em> website.<\/p>\n

How to make wild garlic, nettle and dandelion tart<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Wild garlic, nettle and dandelion tart. \u00a9 Kathy Bishop and Tom Crowford<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

This springtime tart \u2013 brought to you by Kathy Bishop and Tom Crowford from their Somerset smallholding on the BBC Countryfile Magazine<\/em> website\u00a0\u2013 is made from foraged ingredients, including wild garlic, nettle and dandelion.<\/p>\n

Main image: A patch of nettles. \u00a9 Sean Gladwell\/Getty<\/em><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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