About Eucnide urens (Parry ex A.Gray) Parry
Eucnide urens, with the accepted scientific name (Parry ex A.Gray) Parry, is a bushy shrub native to desert regions of California, Arizona, Utah, Southern Nevada, and Baja California. It has several common names: desert rock nettle, desert stingbush, velcro plant, and vegetable velcro. This plant typically forms a round, bushy shape 30 to 60 centimeters tall. It grows in desert environments, specifically on cliffs and in dry, rocky areas, and is often found growing on cliff faces. Its leaves are coarsely serrated, 2 to 6.5 centimeters long, and covered in stinging hairs; stinging hairs are also present on the plant’s stems and buds. Flowers bloom from spring to early summer; they are cream or pale yellow, have 5 petals, and measure 2.5 to 5 centimeters long. Desert bighorn sheep feed on this plant’s flowers.
