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#1
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
Hello,
Does anyone know where I can find some information on purple dead nettle? Plants.usda.gov just gives some taxonomy. Does anyone one know why it's called dead nettle? Something to do with death or is it a corruption of some other language? Is it true that it's presence indicates heavy metals (particularly lead) in the soil? From hearsay, I've gathered that it tends to grow in 'wasteland' which makes sense if the part about heavy metals is true. Hopefully this is a good group to pose this question. |
#2
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
Dead nettle is not a true nettle (Urtica), though the leaves are
superficially similar. It's in the mint family. Since it has no sting, it's harmless, or "dead." I don't know about the lead connection. Its sister species, Lamium amplexicaule, is ubiquitous in East-Central Texas. If it were indicating lead, I'm sure we'd all be defunct by now. It, at least, is an indicator of disturbed or untended ground and tends to hang out with dandelion, shepherd's purse, annual bluegrass, and other early spring weeds/wildflowers. M. Reed Texas A&M Salty Thumb of Death wrote: Hello, Does anyone know where I can find some information on purple dead nettle? Plants.usda.gov just gives some taxonomy. Does anyone one know why it's called dead nettle? Something to do with death or is it a corruption of some other language? Is it true that it's presence indicates heavy metals (particularly lead) in the soil? From hearsay, I've gathered that it tends to grow in 'wasteland' which makes sense if the part about heavy metals is true. Hopefully this is a good group to pose this question. |
#3
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
Monique Reed a écrit dans le message ... Dead nettle is not a true nettle (Urtica), though the leaves are superficially similar. It's in the mint family. Since it has no sting, it's harmless, or "dead." I don't know about the lead connection. Its sister species, Lamium amplexicaule, is ubiquitous in East-Central Texas. If it were indicating lead, I'm sure we'd all be defunct by now. It, at least, is an indicator of disturbed or untended ground and tends to hang out with dandelion, shepherd's purse, annual bluegrass, and other early spring weeds/wildflowers. M. Reed Texas A&M Salty Thumb of Death wrote: Hello, Does anyone know where I can find some information on purple dead nettle? Plants.usda.gov just gives some taxonomy. Does anyone one know why it's called dead nettle? Something to do with death or is it a corruption of some other language? Is it true that it's presence indicates heavy metals (particularly lead) in the soil? From hearsay, I've gathered that it tends to grow in 'wasteland' which makes sense if the part about heavy metals is true. Hopefully this is a good group to pose this question. True nettle (Urtica dioica) is said concentrate lead and arsenic. James |
#4
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
Okay, that makes sense. Personally, I'd have though a name like 'false
nettle' would have been more appropriate, but the purple dead nettle does look rather sickly if you ask me so maybe 'dead' is better. As for the lead, I've read that it doesn't have a lethal toxicity for healthy adults, and isn't especially harmful for most people, but it's really insidious for children and the elderly. The person (who is not a botantist or biologist) who told me about the lead connection said that there's a plant that's a sure indicator of lead in the soil. He was pretty sure it was purple dead nettle (which I assume he meant lamium purpureum). I thought he was confused or pulling my leg, but then I saw this (on google): From: phorbin ) Subject: Groundcover Newsgroups: rec.gardens Date: 2001-05-20 19:00:59 PST says... Try Dead Nettle.....very hardy, lov growing groundcover.....Erin Eeeuch.... LOL. Bad smell... Toxic stuff. Mischievous suggestion. Anyway, thanks for responding. |
#5
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
True nettle (Urtica dioica) is said concentrate lead and arsenic.
James Ah, that's the information I'm looking for. Any idea where I can read up on this? |
#6
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
In article ,
Salty Thumb of Death wrote: True nettle (Urtica dioica) is said concentrate lead and arsenic. James Ah, that's the information I'm looking for. Any idea where I can read up on this? Search using key words like "bioremediation" and "phytoremediation". |
#7
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
Search using key words like "bioremediation" and "phytoremediation". Good, thanks! I've never come across those terms before and so would have never guessed to search on them. Thanks! |
#8
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
Salty Thumb of Death a écrit dans le message ... Search using key words like "bioremediation" and "phytoremediation". Good, thanks! I've never come across those terms before and so would have never guessed to search on them. Thanks! http://www.eeescience.utoledo.edu/Fa...OBPC_Small.pdf Try that one to start. James |
#9
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
In article , Salty Thumb of
Death wrote: Hello, Does anyone know where I can find some information on purple dead nettle? Plants.usda.gov just gives some taxonomy. Does anyone one know why it's called dead nettle? Something to do with death or is it a corruption of some other language? Is it true that it's presence indicates heavy metals (particularly lead) in the soil? From hearsay, I've gathered that it tends to grow in 'wasteland' which makes sense if the part about heavy metals is true. Hopefully this is a good group to pose this question. It's called "Dead Nettle" because, although it resembles Nettles (Urtica spp.), and grows in similar localities, it has no stinging hairs. Therefore it is "dead". -- Michael Moore ) SW School of Botanical Medicine - http://www.swsbm.com All my teaching and clinical manuals, 2000 medicinal plant images and herb research material can be obtained at my web site. |
#10
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question about purple dead nettle - lamium purpureum
In article , Salty Thumb of
Death writes Does anyone one know why it's called dead nettle? Something to do with death or is it a corruption of some other language? Is it true that it's presence indicates heavy metals (particularly lead) in the soil? From hearsay, I've gathered that it tends to grow in 'wasteland' which makes sense if the part about heavy metals is true. White dead nettle, _Lamium album_, when not in flower, looks very like a true nettle, _Urtica dioica_. I conjecture that the name dead (meaning non-stinging) nettle was originally applied to this species, and subsequently extended to other species of _Lamium_. In my younger days I was led to believe that the resemblance of _Lamium album_ to _Urtica dioica_ was a case of mimicry - for purposes of herbivore deterrence. Now I'm not sure whether that is true, or an urban legend - as herbivores do consume nettles, and as herbivores may well recognise plants by smell, rather than sight. _Lamium album_ is not the only plant that can be mistaken for a nettle; one of the British species of _Stachys_ can fool me (again when out of flower). The hemp-nettles are quite so similar. -- Stewart Robert Hinsley |
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