EVERYBODY likes nettles, don’t they? No?

Okay then, but let’s consider the value of the humble stinging nettle for wildlife; not least the fact that they provide food for a number of caterpillars, some of which turn into our most beloved butterflies.

Without nettles, there’d be no red admirals, peacocks or small tortoiseshells – and that would be a miserable world to live in.

Another very good reason to look after nettle patches is that there may be other, non-stinging wildflowers lurking in there.

The Lamiaceae (or Labiates, if you’re of a certain age) are a group represented by several species around the county. They include common species such as dead-nettles and assorted mints, and are mostly downy plants, often aromatic, and are characterised by having square stems.

Several of them closely resemble nettles and have evolved to hide away in similar habitats, fooling grazing animals into thinking they might be packing a stinging punch (despite being totally harmless).

One of these is hedge woundwort – a fairly unassuming plant that can be found in hedgerows (no surprise there, perhaps), woodland edges and grassy verges. The flowers are an attractive purple-red and form loose spikes, which are popular with bees and other pollinators.

The flowers of woundwort, and other lamiaceae, are one sure way of telling them apart from nettles, which have small, unremarkable green flowers.

Hedge woundwort belongs to the genus Stachys, which will be familiar to many gardeners, as it includes lamb’s-lugs (or lamb’s-ears, if you’re in polite company) and others. The genus name derives from the Greek for 'an ear of grain'. This is a slightly bizarre name, since the flowers don’t really resemble any grains or cereals. However, it was named by Carl Linnaeus, a renowned 18th-century biologist known as the 'father of modern taxonomy', and who am I to argue with him?

As the name suggests, woundwort was used by herbalists to treat wounds and promote healing; to alleviate bleeding; and to reduce infection, inflammation and pain. It is also said that the plant can be used to produce a yellow dye and that the tough fibres of the stem could be used to make materials. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

There are, however, a couple of catches. Firstly, herbalist’s remedies should be viewed with some degree of scepticism and secondly, this is a plant that smells. When I say it smells, I mean it really stinks – just try crushing a leaf between your fingers. Having said that, some people actually like the smell; I suppose it takes all sorts. Be warned – the smell will linger on your hands.

Hedge woundwort has a close relative found in marshy areas – known imaginatively as marsh woundwort. It has slightly longer and thinner leaves, making it less nettle-like, and is less smelly.

The two woundwort species readily hybridise and the intermediate can be commonly found along the Pencaitland Railway Walk and many other sites around East Lothian.