About Urtica thunbergiana Siebold & Zucc.
Urtica thunbergiana, commonly called Japanese nettle or hairy nettle, is a species of perennial herb in the nettle family Urticaceae. This species is distributed across Japan, China, and Taiwan, where it grows in moist mountain forests. It flowers from July to September, and its seeds ripen between August and October. The larvae of the butterfly species Vanessa indica are recorded feeding on Urtica thunbergiana. Its Chinese common names translate to "biting cat", "biting nettle", and "stinging herbs", a reference to its stinging hairs that can cause skin pain, redness, burning, or itching. The stinging sensation typically lasts 2 to 4 hours, though some people experience pain for 1 to 2 days, depending on individual constitution. Like other species in the genus Urtica, Urtica thunbergiana can be used as a food ingredient because boiling water destroys its stinging effect. In Taiwan, it is used to make flavored soup, flavored bread, Chinese shortbread, and crispy fried leaves. A 2016–2017 animal survey commissioned by Shei-Pa National Park headquarters along the Mount Dabajian hiking trail captured video of a Taiwan serow feeding on Urtica thunbergiana.
