never had a professor down as the sort of person who reads fantasy novels :)
I forgot
Molly's reason for using it, it's been a while since I read them. Maybe the parents did choose to use it in that sense.
Actually the wiki article for nettle makes interesting reading, I didn't know there was so many species and I think only one actually stings, unfortunately it seems to be the commomnest one in the West.
Maybe it's a shame then that any modern day, non herbalist, person will only think of the stinging nettle.