Urtica
Nettles (Urtica) are a genus of the Urticaceae family, which includes around thirty species of herbaceous plants with hairy leaves. There are 11 species in Europe, including 5 in France.
In Western Europe, the most common species are stinging nettle (Urtica dioica, 50 cm to 1 metre, perennial) andstinging nettle (Urtica urens, less than 50 cm, annual). Urtica pilulifera (pill nettle, Roman nettle) is found in southern and western France, Urtica membranacea (membranous nettle) in the southern Mediterranean and Urtica atrovirens only in Corsica.
Stinging nettle and stinging nettle (leaves and roots) are used as medicinal plants. The leaves are commonly used as a tonic, depurative, diuretic and anti-inflammatory (rheumatic pain).
Nettle is also widely used for food, industrial purposes (for its fibre) and agricultural purposes (as a green manure and insecticide).()
Nettle can be used to make infusions and purins to protect vines.
