Class XIX. Order IV. 341 



TETRsWDRUl. 



398. URTICA. 



URTICA DIOICA. L. Large stinging Nettle. 



Leaves opposite, heart-haped ; clusters much branch- 

 ed, in pairs, mostly dioecious. Sm. 



The sensible qualities of this plant are so convincing, that a 

 botanical description would hardly be necessary to identify it 

 did not some others of the genus possess similar properties. Its 

 power of stinging resides in its minute, tubular hairs or prickles, 

 which transmit a poisonous fluid. It grows commonly in bunch- 

 es about the road sides. Stem erect, obtusely quadrangular, 

 Leaves opposite, heart-shaped, toothed. Racemes axillary, in 

 pairs, spreading, branched. Flowers small, obscure, green. 

 July, August. Perennial. 



The plant varies in the length and base of its leaves. 



URTICA CANADENSIS. L. Canada Nettle* 



Leaves alternate, heart-ovate, acuminate, serrate, 

 hispid on both sides ; panicles axillary, mostly gemi- 

 nate, with divaricate branches, the lower ones barren, 

 longer than the petioles, upper ones fertile, elongated ; 

 stem hispid and stinging. 



Five or six feet high with large leaves. On the banks of 

 Connecticut river, in Orford, New Hampshire. .This appears 

 to be the plant formerly proposed by Mr. Whitlow as a substitute 

 for hemp. 



URTICA PUMILA. Lt. Richiveed. 



Leaves opposite, ovate, acuminate, three nerved, 

 serrate; lower petioles as long as the leaf; flowers 

 monoecious; triandrous, in corymbed heads, shorter 



than the petioles. Willd. 



A weed about houses, distinguished by its stem, which is 

 fleshy and almost transparent. Leaves smooth and shining, regu- 

 larly toothed or serrate, very distinctly three nerved, with long 

 petioles. Flowers in short axillary racemes or heads, repeated- 

 ly forked and recurved. August, September. Annual. 



