Piedmont / Central Appalachian Silver Maple Forest – CEGL006217

The late spring herb flora in a silver maple forest along the Potomac River at Madeira School (Fairfax County) is dominated by emerging plants of European stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).  This exotic is common in Northern Piedmont big-river floodplains, reaches 6 ft (2 m) in height, and delivers a painful sting.