# spurge nettle (*Cnidoscolus stimulosus*) Spurge nettle is a prickly plant that can be found in warm, sunny places. It has big, green leaves and tiny flowers that are not very noticeable. Be careful, as it can sting if you touch it! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![spurge nettle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cnidoscolus_stimulosus_%28flower%29_low_res.jpg&width=800) Photo: Pollinator, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cnidoscolus_stimulosus_%28flower%29_low_res.jpg) ## Appearance The spurge nettle has deeply lobed, palmate leaves covered in stiff, hollow stinging hairs, making it look spiky. Its small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers grow in clusters at the stem tips, and it can reach up to three feet tall. It stands out with its broad, hand-shaped leaves compared to true nettles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Euphorbiaceae - **Genus:** Cnidoscolus ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, it's not a 'true' nettle like other stinging plants! - Even a gentle brush can trigger its super-sharp stinging hairs. - Some tiny insects can walk right over its stingers without harm! - The sting from this plant can feel like a tiny electric shock! ## Special abilities - **Sting Defense:** Spurge nettle has hollow, barbed hairs that inject irritating chemicals to protect it from hungry animals. - **Deep Drinker:** Spurge nettle can grow a very long taproot, helping it find water deep underground in dry, sandy soils. - **Explosive Seeds:** This plant can forcefully eject its seeds far away, spreading its offspring to new locations. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects pollen and nectar - **Eats:** [Oleander aphid](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oleander-aphid) (*Aphis nerii*) — sucks sap from stems and leaves ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Don't touch the leaves without asking an adult, as they can sting! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify spurge nettle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is spurge nettle? 30-90 cm ### How wide does spurge nettle spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on spurge nettle? 0.5-1 cm ### When does spurge nettle bloom? Spring to fall ### Is spurge nettle edible? No ### Is spurge nettle toxic? Moderate ### What is spurge nettle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Silver Springs](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/silver-springs) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Tockwotton-Love Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tockwotton-love-place-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Gulf Breeze Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gulf-breeze-zoo) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Bibb City Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bibb-city-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Bodie Island Lifesaving and Coast Guard Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bodie-island-lifesaving-and-coast-guard-station) — North Carolina, US · Historic Site - [City of Camden Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/city-of-camden-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District [View all places to see spurge nettle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spurge-nettle) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Spurge Nettle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spurge-nettle)