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American Stinging Nettle (Urtica gracilis Aiton)

Most authorities including USDA and BONAP lump together this species with the great stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) under that scientific name, and treat the two populations as subspecies. However we find compelling reasons to separate them as species, including clear morphological differences, incompatibility and lack of hybridization, and ecological differences. This newer treatment is accepted by POWO and Weakley's FSUS and we anticipate everyone will eventually adopt it as the rationale for it is compelling.

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American Stinging Nettle
Photo © Tom Scavo, CC BY 4.0.

Range - Expand

LegendColor
Native
Expanded
Native or Not Present
Native or Expanded
Expanded or Not Present
Native or Expanded or Not Present

This tentative map is based on our own research. It may have limited data on Canada and/or Mexico, and there is some subjectivity in our assignment of plants as introduced vs. expanded. Read more in this blog post.

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Photo © Tom Scavo, CC BY 4.0.