A species of nettle, the urtica nivea was also sown in square patches, for the purpose of converting its fibres into thread, of which they manufacture a kind of cloth.
"Travels in China, Containing Descriptions, Observations, and Comparisons, Made and Collected in the Course of a Short Residence at the Imperial Palace of Yuen-Min-Yuen, and on a Subsequent Journey through the Country from Pekin to Canton"
John Barrow
Viper-Grass, 47 Vertues of Sallet Plants and Furniture, 57; Consist in the several and different Parts of the same Plant, 49 Voluptuaria Venena, 28 U. urtica, 30 W. Welsh, prolifick, 20 Wind, 17 Wine, 7; vide Appendix.
"Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets"
John Evelyn
This title "urtica" comes ab urendo, "from burning."
"Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure"
William Thomas Fernie