How to Identify Nettle

When you are trying to survive in the wild, it is important to be able to identify plants for food and other uses. The nettle herb is one plant that can provide much-needed nutrients, as well as fiber for weaving. If you can identify nettle herbs, you have a better chance of survival, and know how to find a tasty meal to lift your spirits.

Instructions

    • 1

      Find a moist area near a stream or the edge of a forest. Nettle herbs thrive in habitats like these.

    • 2

      Look for a green plant, several feet high, with very small flowers. It will have fine, hairlike bristles on its stalks, stems and on the underside of the leaves. When touched, these bristles cause a stinging sensation, earning it the common name of stinging or burning nettle.

    • 3

      Use gloves to collect the plants, as the stinging sensation from the bristles can last for a few minutes up to an hour.

    • 4

      Boil the plant for 10 to 15 minutes to destroy the stinging element of the bristles. You can now eat the very nutritious leaves and young stems of the nettle herb. Nettles provide vitamins C and A, as well as iron, protein and minerals. Furthermore, nettles have been used to treat anemia, diarrhea and poor circulation.

    • 5

      Pull the stems apart to collect a fibrous layer. This material can be separated into individual fibers to weave string, rope or cloth.