Nettles

Within the foliage cover, a space of air, framed by the jagged, teeth edges of leaves, shouts out a malignant warning not to touch. Like some vibratory dance which inflames the hidden stingers, the leaves of the Nettles are clearly things to avoid. How had they come to be this way? Thorns are easier to understand; armored rows of claws that protect the succulent Rose; but the Nettles have invisible stingers hidden on the leaf, and even a brush against the plant leads to welts and pain. Besides, the leaves have a scary look, as though to say with a visual tongue, "Do not touch me..." While other plants, more benign, seem to cope without a need to arm Themselves; so why does the Nettle seek to protect itself? What sweet secret is denied the predatory taste? But I am reminded of how the forest is place of life forms which consume and are also consuming, as though directed by some unseen Will to live or perish in the struggle for existence. Beautiful dangers lurk in the plant world.