GENUS 3. 



NETTLE FAMILY 



i. Pilea pumila (L.) A. Gray. Clearweed. 

 Richweed. Coolweed. Fig. 1561. 



Urtica pumila L. Sp. PI. 984. 1753. 



Adicea pumila Raf. ; Torr. Fl. N. Y. 2 : 223. As synonym. 



1843. 

 Pilea pumila A. Gray, Man. 437. 1848. 



Annual, stems pellucid, erect, usually branched, 

 glabrous, succulent, 6'-2 high. Leaves membranous, 

 ovate, slender-petioled, acuminate or acute at the 

 apex, rounded or narrowed at the base, 3-nerved, 

 coarsely dentate, i'-s' long, sparingly pubescent with 

 scattered hairs ; petioles often as long as the blades 

 and much longer than the pistillate flower-clusters; 

 sepals of the pistillate flowers lanceolate, nearly 

 equal ; achene ovate, acute, ' long. 



In swampy, shaded situations, often on old logs, New 

 Brunswick to western Ontario and Minnesota, Florida, 

 Louisiana, Nebraska and Kansas. Ascends to 3000 ft. in 

 Virginia. Also in Japan. July-Sept. Stingless-nettle. 



4. BOEHMERIA Jacq. Stirp. Am. 246. pi. 757. 1763. 



Perennial stingless herbs (some tropical species shrubs or even trees), with opposite or 

 alternate petioled 3-nerved leaves, distinct or connate stipules, and small monoecious or dioe- 

 cious flowers, glomerate in axillary spikes or heads, the fertile clusters sometimes leafy at 

 the summit. Staminate flowers mostly 4-parted or the calyx of 4 distinct sepals, usually 

 with a rudimentary ovary. Pistillate calyx tubular or urn-shaped, 2-4-toothed or entire, 

 enclosing the sessile or stalked ovary ; stigma subulate, papillose or pubescent along one side. 

 Achene enclosed by the withering-persistent pistillate calyx. [In honor of Georg Rudolph 

 Boehmer, 1723-1803, Professor in Wittenberg.] 



About 50 species, mostly natives of tropical regions, the following of eastern North America. 

 Type species : Boehmeria ramiflora Jacq. 



i. Boehmeria cylindrica (L.) Sw. 

 Nettle. Fig. 1562. 



False 



Urtica cylindrica L. Sp. PI. 984. 1753. 



Urtica capitata L. Sp. PI. 985. 1753. 



Boehmeria cylindrica Sw. Prodr. 34. 1788. 



Boehmeria cylindrica scabra Porter, Bull. Torr. Club 16: 



21. 1889. 

 Boehmeria scabra Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 358. 1903. 



A perennial rough pubescent or nearly smooth 

 and glabrous erect branching herb, i-3 tall. 

 Stem stiff ; leaves ovate, ovate-oblong or ovate-lan- 

 ceolate, thin, petioled, opposite, or some alternate, 

 coarsely dentate, i'~3' long, i'-ii' wide; petioles 

 shorter than the blades ; stipules lanceolate-subulate, 

 distinct ; flowers dioecious or androgynous ; stami- 

 nate spikes usually interrupted, the pistillate mostly 

 continuous, i'-ii' long, often with small leaves at 

 the top ; achene ovate-oval, acute, rather less than 

 i" long. 



In moist soil, Quebec and Ontario to Minnesota, Flor- 

 ida, Kansas and Texas. Bermuda and other West Indies. 

 Consists of numerous races. July-Sept. 



5. PARIETARIA L. Sp. PI. 1052. 1753. 



Annual or perennial stingless diffuse or erect herbs, with alternate entire 3-nerved peti- 

 oled leaves, no stipules, and axillary glomerate polygamous flowers, involucrate by leafy 

 bracts. Calyx of the staminate flowers 4-parted or of 4 (rarely 3) distinct sepals. Fertile 

 flowers with a tubular or campanulate 4-lobed calyx investing the ovary, a short or slender 

 style, and a penicillate stigma. Achene ovoid, enclosed by the withering-persistent pistillate 

 calyx. [Ancient Latin, referring to the growth of some species on walls.] 



About 7 species, widely distributed ; besides the following another occurs in the southern United 

 States and one in western North America. Type species : Parietaria officinalis L. 



