Urtica dioica -L.-
stinging nettle


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Urtica dioica -L.-

Common Name: stinging nettle

Myaamia Name: aašoošiwia

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Undetermined

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Undetermined

Uses: Material, Technology

Locations: Undetermined

Sources

Kinietz, W.V. 1965

Reference Type: Use - Material

Archival Data:

"Before their knowledge of the whites they used belts made of the small bones found in the legs of swans and other large birds, which were attached by means of a cord composed of the fibres of the wild nettle. These were made with much labour; and were said to be admirably wrought. They soon exchanged them however for the wampum . . .".

Comments: N/A

National Museum of the American Indian 2003

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

There are Myaamia items made of hemp, possibly dogbane or nettles, including a sack, medicine pouch and necklace cordage, all housed at the National Museum of the American Indian, in Washington D.C.

Comments: N/A

Raudot, A.D. 1904

Reference Type: Use - Technology

Archival Data:

Cordage for fishing nets made from nettles and wild hemp. The women gather, spin and twist lengths of cordage on their bare thighs. The cords used to draw these nets are made of the bark of basswood or leather. With these nets many fish and beaver are captured. They also fish with still lines up to 90 meters long.

Comments: N/A

Cranbrook Institute of Science 2003

Reference Type: Use - Material

Archival Data:

There are two items that are possibly made with plant fibers, which could include dogbane, nettles or basswood, among others, at the Cranbrook Institute in Michigan.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M. P. 2018-2022

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data :

This nettle is the only tall, perennial nettle in Myaamia lands, and considering that fiber sources are typically from longer-stemmed plants where annual harvesting is possible (many stems are needed for making cordage), it was concluded that the nettle fibers described were derived from this species, 

Comments: N/A

Gleason, H.A. and Cronquist, A. 1991

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data :

Found in many habitats throughout eastern and western Myaamia lands

Comments: N/A

McCafferty, M. 2004

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

La Salle was one of the first to note the name of a tributary to the upper portion of Illinois River, called masaana [rope] siipiiwi, which is the present day Kankakee River, so named for the surrounding land present day Mazon where he noted a great quantity of hemp growing, possibly referring to fiber-producing plants like the nettle.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Gravier: "waapahsapiiki", plural for hemp cord ("espece de chamvre dont on fait des cordes asses blanches"). Pinet: "corde dorties"

Comments: N/A

Blair, E 1911

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Algonquians play a game called crosse, played with a wooden ball and racket with a netted end, like a tennis racket. "There is among them a certain game, called crosse, which has much likenes to our game of long tennis . . . You will see them all equipped with the crosse--which is a light club, having at one end a broad flat part that is netted like a racket [possibly dogbane, basswood, nettles, or another strong fiber".

Comments: N/A

Eckert, A.W. 1967

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Documented as used by local Indians in the Kentucky area, the Shawnee, in a letter from Col. Nathan Boone; son of Daniel Boone, to Dr. Lyman Draper: "Used to gather nettles, a sort of hemp, towards spring when it became rotted by the wet weather, and spin them, very strong--in rich lands grows four feet high: nettles the warp, and buffalo wool spun the filling--both spun. For socks buffalo wool alone was used--quite soft and wears very well".

Comments: N/A

Schwartz, O. and Wiggins, M. 2021

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Young stinging nettles are harvested for food by the Ojibwe.

Comments: N/A

Cranbrook Institute of Science 2003

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Unidentified cordage fibers were used for attaching Myaamia history belts.

Comments: N/A

Whitford, A. C. 1941

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Nettles were of the most important sources of fibers for Eastern North American Indians, where the plant tissues were almost always treated before fiber use. Many tribes simply peeled the bark from the plant and twisted it. Museum artifacts made with nettle fibers include a Delaware wampum string and burden strap, Micmac cordage to hold a knife blade to its handle, an Ojibway bow string, twelve Hopewell specimens, and other uses by Ohio cave and rock-shelter dwellers.

Comments: N/A

Legends

  • L.: L. stands for Carl Linneaus, a Swedish botanist and zoologist living from 1707 - 1778, who formed the binomial nomenclature system for scientific naming of species (the two part name). His initial after a scientific name indicates he was the authority for that species name.
  • sp.: Indicates the actual species name cannot or need not be specified. Example: Lilium sp. indicates a single species in the genus Lilium that is not known or does not need to be specified.
  • spp.: (plural) indicates "several species", two or more species of the given genus. Example: Lilium spp. indicates 2 or more species in the genus that cannot or do not need to be distinguished.
  • Use - Unknown: A record for this plant exists but does not include explicit information about the plant's cultural use. It is probable the Myaamia used the plant.
  • Botanical Sources: Sources of any botanical data for this plant species that is not related to its cultural use or significance.
  • Related Sources: Data indirectly related to Myaamia ethnobotany, including non-Myaamia uses of the plant in contemporary and historic times.
  • Myaamia Archival Sources: All records of plant use obtained directly from a Myaamia tribal member in an interview, recorded by a second party or by self-recording.
  • Undetermined (Plant Use): There exists use or other information about a certain, unknown plant species, but the specific species has not yet been determined.
  • Medicinal: For the purposes of this database, medicinal uses of plants and medicinal knowledge are defined as: Commonly held communal knowledge regarding the use of plant-based substances that aid in maintaining a healthy mind, body or spirit, including tonics and teas.
  • Technology: For the purposes of this database, technological uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in the making of food processing, canoes, rafts, dyes, tools, utensils, weapons, hunting and fishing gear (i.e. net, weir, etc.), cordage, string, rope, fodder plant species, firewood, any plants used in trade, etc.
  • Material: For the purposes of this database, material uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in construction of dwellings (floor mats, roofing, side walls), furniture, baskets, storage items, musical instruments, games, crafts, jewelry, cordage used in crafts, etc.
  • Food: For the purposes of this database, food uses of plants are defined as: Plants used as consumed food, spices and seasonings, but not teas or tonics.
  • Customs: For the purposes of this database, customary uses of plants are defined as: Plants involved in a customary ceremony, ritual or traditional event, including ritual smoking, chewing tobacco, war rituals, special mats used to sit on during ceremonies. Customary uses of plants, in this database, does not including plants used for recreation (material), structures where ceremonies take place (material) or medicinal smoking (medicinal).
  • Eastern Myaamia Lands: Eastern Myaamia lands (eastern myaamionki) are centered around northern Indiana, and including western Ohio, eastern Illinois, southern Michigan, and the northernmost portions of Kentucky.
  • Western Myaamia Lands: Western Myaamia lands (western myaamionki) include western Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma.