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 : 253

3. Urtica dioica L. subsp. dioica var. sarmatica Zapał. (1908: 93) . Fig. 3

Lectotype (designated by Weigend 2005):— UKRAINE. Podolia: W Ukraine: Niwra in the region Borszczów , between Tarnopol and Czerniowce, Lenz 93.255 (♀: KRAM!, KRAM No. 153161).

This taxon was generally overlooked and was considered as synonymous with Urtica dioica subsp. pubescens (Ledeb.) Domin (1944: 71 , Weigend 2005). More collections in recent years and cultivation of this form indicate that var. sarmatica represents a distinct ecotype. This variety is quite similar to var. dioica , but very robust (up to 200 cm tall) and differs in its dense and soft, albeit not white pubescence, relatively much weaker cover with stinging hairs. In inflorescence morphology it cannot be differentiated from var. dioica .

Distribution and Ecology: —Typically found in dry forests, e.g., under oaks in eastern Germany and Poland, probably wide-spread in eastern Europe at least to the Black Sea.

Conservation status: —Using IUCN criteria ( IUCN 2001), Urtica dioica subsp. dioica var. sarmatica is considered “Least Concern” (LC).

Representative specimens:— GERMANY. Berlin: FU Berlin, compost near greenhouses of the “ Institut für Pflanzenphysiologie ” 53 m, 17 Aug. 2007, T. Camenzind 21 (♂, BONN) ; same locality and date, T. Camenzind 22 (♂, BONN) ; Brandenburg: Küstrin, directly E of village next to German-Polish Borderpost (last roadbend before bridge, E of road towards the River Oder ), 23 July 2002, M. & K. Weigend 7130 (♀, BM, BSB, GB, M, W) .

Intermediate specimens to var. dioica :— GERMANY. Brandenburg: Küstrin, just before the Polish border post, Oct. 2001, cultivated in Berlin July 2003, M. & K. Weigend 5662-C (<♂ ♀>, BONN) ; near Oderberg (near River Oder), hill called Pimpinellenberg , 21 April 2002, cultivated in Berlin July 2003, M. & K. Weigend 7087-C (♀, BONN, BR, E, MA, MO) ; Neukölln, Castle Britz, Park , under oaks and maples, 20 Nov. 2001, cultivated in Berlin July 2003, M. & K. Weigend 5671-C (♂, BONN, MA, P) ;— POLAND. Bialystok: Bielowicza, Oct. 2001, I. Polunin s.n., cultivated in Berlin July 2002, M. & K. Weigend 5648-C (♀, ♂, and <♂ ♀>, BM, BONN, KRAM, LE, M, NY, P) ; same locality and date, cultivated in Berlin July 2002, M. & K. Weigend 5653-C (♀, BONN) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Urtica dioica L. subsp. dioica var. sarmatica: (A: M. Weigend 9328, B, C: M. Weigend 9327), A. Node with leaf pair and female inflorescences, B. Node with leaf pair and male inflorescences, leaf surface is weakly covered with stinging hairs, C. Node with stipules and male inflorescences.