Scrub nettle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scrub nettle |
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Scientific classification |
Urtica incisa, often called scrub nettle or stinging nettle, is a special plant. It's a type of herb that grows back every year, known as a perennial. You can find it in eastern and southern Australia, especially near streams and in rainforest areas. It grows from Queensland down through New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. It also grows in parts of South Australia and Western Australia. You can even find it on both the North and South Islands of New Zealand!
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What Does Scrub Nettle Look Like?
Scrub nettle plants stand upright. Their leaves are shaped like triangles and grow in pairs opposite each other on the stem. Each leaf is usually about 5 to 12 centimeters long. The edges of the leaves are serrated, which means they have a jagged, saw-like look.
One of the most important things about scrub nettle is its stinging hairs. These tiny hairs are found all over the plant. If you touch them, they can cause a mild sting or itch on your skin. This is how the plant protects itself from animals that might want to eat it.
How People Have Used Scrub Nettle
For a very long time, people have found ways to use scrub nettle.
Food and Medicine
- A Tasty Vegetable: Indigenous Australians were very clever. They knew how to prepare the leaves of the scrub nettle so they could be eaten. They would bake the leaves between hot stones. After cooking, the leaves became a tasty and nutritious vegetable.
- Health Tonic: Later, early European settlers in Australia also used scrub nettle. They would make a special drink, sometimes called a "tonic," from the plant. They believed this tonic helped to "clear the blood" and was good for their health.
More Information
Want to learn about Urtica incisa in Spanish? Check out this page for kids: Urtica incisa para niños