Urtica dioica from Kashmir

[Gurcharan Singh]

Urtica dioica from Kashmir, one of the commonest plants on roadsides and wastelands, the common stinging nettle, bichhu butti, called Soi in Kashmir. Photographed from Balgarden, Srinagar on June 15, 2010. Easily differentiated from Urtica parviflora by its free stipules.

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[tanay bose]

The best plant to Play prank

Tanay

--
Tanay Bose
Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant
Department of Botany
University of British Columbia
3529-6270 University Blvd.
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada)
Phone: 778-323-4036

[Shantanu]

Tanay
are these Bichuti pataa?
Do we have an itching sensation when the leaves are brushed on the
skin?

regards
Shantanu : )

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[Gurcharan Singh]

Yes shantanu ji

The stinging hairs have a sharp tip which breaks on coming in contact with skin injecting oxalic acid which produces skin irritation. When an unsuspecting person comes in contact with these plants the itching results. We would often tease other children, touching the plant ourselves without an ill effect, and when others (not familiar with the plant) would touch the plant, they would suddenly cry with irritation. The secret: You can touch the plant with front of palm, not back. You you touch with front of the palm gently, the stinging hairs can't penetrate the thick skin of the front of the palm. This would be a common prank for Delhi students on excursions to hill stations.

[tanay bose]

Now you know the reason Shantanu Da

Tanay