Stinging Nettle
(Urtica dioica)

Grows in damp places in the canyons, often in large patches. The plant is armed with stinging hairs on the leaves and stems. Each hair contains a droplet of formic acid, which causes a painful burning sensation on contact with the skin. However, the plant is edible when cooked. It is rich in vitamins A and C.
The stinging nettle plant grows 3 or 4 feet tall. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, growing in clusters which hang from the leaf axils. They are light greenish in color.