Elatostema.} CXXIIIp, URTICACEM (Rendle). 281 
or branched, more or less densely and shortly hairy. Leaves sessile, 
obliquely oblanceolate, acuminate, base very unequal and entire, 
margin above the base serrate, excluding the lower smaller ones 1-2 in. 
long, 5-8 lin. wide, with 3-4 lateral nerves on each side, ascending 
and uniting well within the margin, the two stronger arising well 
above the leaf-base, upper face glabrous or with a few scattered 
stiff white hairs, cystoliths numerous, short, linear, lower face 
sparsely hispidulous on the nerves. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, apex 
often shortly 2-fid, a little over 1 lin. long. Female inflorescence 
sessile or subsessile, 2-4 lin. in width, forming when mature a dense 
hemispherical or rounded hairy cushion. Outer bracts membranous, 
ovate-oblong, green with well-marked median vein and less con- 
spicuous laterals, margin ciliolate, 12 lin. long ; inner bracts narrower, 
oblong, otherwise similar, barely 14 lin. long, the innermost linear- 
spathulate to narrow-linear, 1 lin. or less in length, all with long 
hairs on the upper part ; cystoliths not visible in the bracts. Flowers 
on short or longer stalks; perianth minute, 3-partite, segments 
ovate, margin shortly fimbriate above, about } lin. long. Achene 
brown, compressed elliptic-ovate, 3 lin. long. 
Nile Land. British East Africa: Kuroris, forest ground plant, handsome 
and abundant, Hutchins! Uganda: Ruwenzori; Kivata, wet dark places in 
forest at 8000 ft., Scott Elliot, 7632 ! 
Mozamb. Distr. Kilimanjaro: Marangu, forest at 7000 ft., Volkens, 1259! 
Rhodesia: Chirinda forest, 3700-4000 ft., a small herb climbing over a stone 
in mid-stream of Zona River, near source, Swynnerton, 784 ! 
5. E. monticola, Hook. f. in Journ. Linn. Soc. vii. 216. A small 
herb 1 ft. high with slender stems ascending from a long creeping 
rooting base, simple or branched, generally 6-8 in. high, $-? lin. 
thick, hispidulous, especially in the upper part, with short down- 
wardly directed hairs, leafy mainly above the middle. Leaves 
membranous, with very short stalks, obliquely obovate, acute, base 
very unequal, margin somewhat grossly serrate above the base, 
1-1} in. long, 3-3 in. wide, with 3-4 lateral nerves on either side, the 
longest on the broader side arising opposite the origin of the blade on 
the narrower side and passing about to the middle of the blade, and 
on the narrower side 2-3 lin. above this point and passing beyond 
the middle of the blade ; upper face with scattered appressed pointed 
aits, nerves hispidulous on lower face, and with numerous linear 
cystoliths visible on both faces ; petiole 1 lin. or less in length. Sti- 
pules membranous, lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 1-14 lin. long, per- 
sistent. Female inflorescence sessile or subsessile, ultimately 4-3 in. 
in diam. and forming a somewhat flat hairy cushion surrounded by 
an involucre of ovate-oblong to oblong blunt green bracts about 
1 lin. long with ciliated margin and surface marked with linear 
Cystoliths, inner bracts narrower to linear-spathulate, green and 
ciliated above the middle. Flowers numerous, crowded, sessile or 
