Hesperocnide tenella Torr.   Urticaceae (Nettle Family)   Native   Western Nettle

                                    February Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Annual herb; stems slender, rather weak, 2-5 dm. long, simple or branched, with stinging hairs; stipules minute; staminate fls. in clustered axillary heads, mixed with pistillate; lvs. opposite, ovate, crenate-serrate, the blades 0.5-2.5 cm. long; staminate fls. in clustered axillary heads, sepals 4, +/- free, stamens 4, mixed with pistillate; calyx of pistillate fls. tubular, 2-4-toothed, with unicate hairs, 1-1.5 mm. long in fr.; fr. ovate.

Habitat:  Occasional on shaded slopes at low elevs.; Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral; cismontane San Diego Co. to Napa Co., desert edge; San Clemente, Santa Catalina, Santa Cruz Ids.  April-June.

Name:  Greek, hespera, west, and knide, nettle.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 846).  Tenelus, slender.  (Bailey 22).  This genus of nettles and its species is limited to western America and Hawaii.  The genus name denotes this.  (John Johnson).

General:  Common on north facing slopes above Back Bay Dr. between the Newporter Inn and the intersection of San Joaquin Hills Rd.  Not found elsewhere in the study area.        Two species, one in Hawaii. (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 846).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 1082; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 846; Roberts 40.

Photo Ref:  Feb-Mar 88 # 8,9.

Identity: by R. De Ruff

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 371.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 7/14/03.

                                            February Photo