Urticaceae

Urticaceae the nettle family comprising about 45 genera of herbs, shrubs, small trees, and a few vines, distributed primarily in tropical regions. The family is typical of the nettle order.

Nettle family
Urtica dioica (Stinging nettle)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Urticaceae Juss., 1789
Subfamilies
See text

Description

Many species, especially the nettles (Urtica) and Australian nettle trees (Laportea), have stinging hairs on the stems and leaves. The leaves are varied and the sap is usually watery. The small, greenish flowers often form clusters in the leaf axils. Both male and female flowers may be borne on the same plant. The curled stamens of the male flowers straighten quickly as the flowers open, releasing the pollen.