Urtica dioica, Linnaeus, 1753

Grosse-Veldmann, Bernadette & Weigend, Maximilian, 2015, Weeding the nettles III: Named nonsense versus named morphotypes in European Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae), Phytotaxa 208 (4), pp. 239-260 : 257

5. Urtica dioica L. subsp. dioica var. glabrata (Clem. ex Visiani) Asch. & Graeb. (1911: 609) . Fig. 5

Basionym: Urtica glabrata Clem. ex Visiani (1842: 217) . Holotype:— CROATIA. Southern Croatia: Dinaric Alps, Mount Biokovo Mountains, “Habitat frequens in nomoroviis lateris orientials montis Biokovo” (not located). Neotype (here designated):— ITALY. Southern Tyrolia: Trentino, Monte Stivo NW of Arco (N of Pass over Monte Velo), ca. 1100 m, April 2002, cultivated in Berlin July 2003, M. & K. Weigend 7097-C (♂, BONN!, isoneotypes: BM!, KRAM!, LE!, M!, MA!, W!).

Kanitz (1872) searched for the type and was convinced that the specimen was either never prepared by Visiani, or already lost then.

≡ Urtica dioica L. var. vulgaris Wedd. subvar. glabrata (Clem. ex Vis.) Wedd. , in DC. (1869: 51).

This variety has been little cited, but it may be more or less widespread in the southern Alps. We recollected this form in northern Italy and brought it into cultivation, where it turned out to be stable. This form is essentially identical to var. holosericea , but differs in the very sparse pubescence, so that the whole plant appears shiny, vivid green and lustrous. There are very few stinging hairs and no bristles.

Distribution and Ecology: —Forest form found in nutrient rich, humid montane forests in the southern Alps and on the Balkan peninsula.

Conservation status: —Using IUCN criteria ( IUCN 2001), Urtica dioica subsp. dioica var. glabrata is considered “Not Evaluated” (NE), since it is known from very few localities.

Representative specimens:— ITALY. Southern Tyrolia: Trentino, Monte Stivo NW of Arco (N of Pass over Monte Velo), ca. 1100 m, April 2002, cultivated in Berlin July 2003, M. & K. Weigend 7097-C (<♂ ♀>, BONN, M).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Urtica dioica L. subsp. dioica var. glabrata: (all M. Weigend 7097), A. Habit, B. Node with leaf pair with abaxial (left) and adaxial (right) surface, C. Achene, D. Stem only sparsely pubescent, E. Node with stipules, F. Leaf pair with female inflorescences.