Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Soleirolia soleirolii

Family

Urticaceae

Flowering season

May to August

English distribution

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the

central Midlands and the far North.

See the BSBI distribution map for Mind-your-own-business

Habitat

It is a neophyte, which has been grown in UK since the

early 1900s, and known in the wild since the late 1910s.

It continues to escape and is on the increase.

It grows in damp shady places such as at the base of

walls and on paths.

Description

Mind-your-own-business is an evergreen, low-growing,

matt-forming, perennial herb, growing up to 20cm.

Male and female flowers are separate and are very

small.

They are in the axils of the leaves and only visible on close

examination.

The male flower bud is made up of a 4-lobed, red perianth

which bursts open to show 4 white stamens.

Female flowers are enclosed in a red, tubular, 4-lobed

perianth.

There is a simple style and staminodes (infertile stamens).

The flowers are similar to those in the related Stinging

Nettle.

Leaves are dark green and up to 6mm.

The stems are thread-like, red and root at the nodes.