Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae)
Cnidoscolus texanue (Muell. Arg.) Small
Region: 1-8, 10 (Ellis County is Region 4)
Size: 1-3 1/2 feet
Blooms: March through September, Perennial
Be very careful if you want to smell these flowers! Bullnettle is well defended, with stinging hairs covering all parts except the flowers. Once stung, you ’ll know this plant forever. Upright and branched, it is common across Texas and frequently forms large colonies in disturbed areas. Fragrant, white, tubular flowers consist of five to seven flaring sepals that form loose terminal clusters. Seeds are held tightly in compartments of a tough, almost round seedpod and the large, edible seeds are considered very tasty when ripe. A deep, tuberous taproot, branching underground, lets bullnettle thrive during hot summers and drought. Mala mujer (bad woman), another common name, was given because, like a “bad woman,” bullnettle is hurtful to touch.
Article by: Melinda Kocian
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