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Canada Woodnettle (Laportea canadensis)

• Family: Nettle (Urticaceae)
• Flowering: May-August.
• Field Marks: This nettle is distinguished by its stinging hairs and alternate leaves.
• Habitat: Along streams, low woods.
• Habit: Perennial herbs from thickened rootstocks.
• Stems: Erect, branched or unbranched, with stinging hairs, up to 2 1/2 feet tall.
• Leaves: Alternate, simple, ovate, pointed at the tip, rounded at the base, coarsely toothed, hairy, up to 6 inches long.
• Flowers: Many tiny flowers crowded into branched clusters, the male flowers separate from the female flowers, but usually on the same plant, each flower greenish white, up to 1/12 inch long.
• Sepals: 4-5, green, free from each other.
• Petals: 0.
• Stamens: Usually 4.
• Pistils: Ovary superior.
• Fruits: Achenes flat, asymmetrical, nodding on a winged stalk, up to 1/6 inch long.