Urticating Hair - Urticating Bristles in Plants

Urticating Bristles in Plants

The most common form of urticating bristles in plants are typified by nettles, which possess sharp-pointed hollow bristles seated on a gland which secretes an acrid fluid. The points of these bristles usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid is pressed into it. Various plants unrelated to nettles possess similar defensive bristles, and the common names often reflect this (e.g., "bull nettle").

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