About Hesperocnide tenella Torr.
Hesperocnide tenella Torr. is an annual plant with slender, erect stems that grow no taller than 50 centimeters. Like many other nettles, it bears stinging hairs that contain formic acid. Its calyx also has delicate hooked hairs. The leaves are ovate, somewhat thin, arranged oppositely along the stem, and edged with teeth that give them a heavily serrated appearance. The inflorescences are rounded and head-shaped, and hold both pistillate and staminate flowers. Pistillate flowers have 2 to 4 equal sepals that are fused almost to the tip, and one ovary. Staminate flowers have 4 sepals and 4 stamens. All flowers are around one millimeter long. The fruits are lenticular achenes, enclosed by the calyx. The genus Hesperocnide contains two species: this species, which is native to California, and Hesperocnide sandwicensis, which is native to Hawaii.
