Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: In deep, rich soil or near moisture, sagebrush deserts, shady lowlands and mountain slopes, sea level to subalpine.
Flowers: May-September
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Wind
Rhizomatous perennials 1-3 meters tall.
Simple, opposite, petiolate with stipules at base; margins serrate to dentate; stinging and nonstinging hairs present on both surfaces, or stinging hairs on lower surface only.
Plants monoecious or dioecious. Sepals 4, petals absent, stamens 4 and opposite the sepals, ovary superior.
Achene enclosed within the dry sepals.
Publication: Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 41: 271. 1947.
Urtica dioica L. var. angustifolia Schltdl. [HC]
Urtica dioica L. var. californica (Greene) C.L. Hitchc. [HC]
Urtica dioica L. var. gracilis (Aiton) R.L. Taylor & MacBryde [HC]
Urtica dioica L. var. lyallii (S. Watson) C.L. Hitchc. [HC]
Urtica dioica L. var. procera (Muhl. ex Willd.) Wedd. [HC]
Urtica gracilis Aiton
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis information.
E-Flora BC: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis atlas page.
CalPhotos: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis photos.
USDA Plants: Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis information.
