Martha writes: If you grab the plant quickly and firmly enough the stinging
hairs are crushed before they can pierce the skin...
So it is said; however, when I firmly grasp a number of small plants during
hand-weeding, I soon become aware that nettles are present!
Do you remember that someone posted last year the suggestion that elderly
French gents were once recommended to roll unclothed in a nettle-patch to
regain their sexual potency: one of them, reasoning that he didn't need to
get stung all over, bravely grabbed a handful to apply where they were most
needed - hence 'grasp the nettle' = take charge and get down to the
nitty-gritty. Tony N-S.
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