526 



URTICACEAE 



2. HESPEROCNIDE Torr. Pacif. R. Rep. 4: 139. 1857. 



Annual herbs with stinging hairs, and opposite petioled serrate or dentate leaves. Flowers 

 in clustered loose axillary heads, monoecious, the staminate and pistillate in the same clusters. 

 Calyx of the staminate flowers 4-parted, the lobes equal, that of the pistillate flowers tubular, 

 2-4-toothcd, beset with uncinate hairs. Stamens 4, opposite the calyx-lobes, inflexed. Stigma 

 terminal, nearly sessile, tufted. Achene enclosed by the thin membranous calyx. [Greek, 

 meaning western nettle.] 



Two species, the other occurring on the Hawaiian Islands. Type species, Hesperocnide tenella Torr. 



1. Hesperocnide tenella Torr. Western Nettle. 



Fig. 



1275. 



Hesperocnide tenella Torr. Pacif. R. Rep. 4: 139. 1857. 



Stems slender and weak, 25-50 cm. high, simple or 

 branched, somewhat hispid with branching hairs and 

 bristly. Leaves 1-3 cm. long, thin, ovate, obtusely ser- 

 rate; petioles slender, half as long as the leaf blades; 

 flower clusters rather dense, nearly glomerate, shorter 

 than the petioles ; calyx thin, hispid, with hooked hairs, in 

 fruit 1-1.5 iTim. long; achene membranous, striately tu- 

 berculate with minutely rough points. 



On shaded caiion slopes, and hillsides, Upper Sonoran Zone; 

 Coast Ranges from Napa County and the central Sierra Nevada, 

 south to San Diego County. March-July. Type locality; Napa 

 Valley, California. 



3. PARIETARIA L. Sp. PL 1052. 1753. 



Annual or perennial herbs (some tropical species shrubs or trees) without stinging hairs. 

 Leaves alternate, entire, 3-nerved, petioled, without stipules. Flowers m axillary glomerate 

 clusters, polygamous, subtended by leafy bracts. Calyx of the perfect flowers 4-parted, of the 

 pistillate tubular-ventricose and 4-cleft with connivent lobes. Style slender or none; stigma 

 spatulate, recurved, densely tufted. Achene ovoid, smooth and shining, enclosed in the dry 

 brownish nerved calyx. [Ancient Latin name, referring to the growth of some species on 

 walls.] 



About 7 species, widely distributed. Besides the following two others inhabit the eastern states. Type 

 species, Parietaria officinalis L. 



Involucre 2 or 3 times as long as the sepals; stems simple or sparingly branched. 1. P. pennsylvamca. 

 Involucre very slightly surpassing the sepals; stems much branched. 2. P. flortdana. 



1. Parietaria pennsylvanica Muhl. 

 Pennsylvania Pellitory. Fig. 1276. 



Parietaria penvsylvanica Muhl.; Willd. Sp. PI. 4-: 955. 



1805. 

 Parietaria occidentalis Rydb. B'ull. Torrey Club 39: 306. 



1912. 



Stems slender erect ; simple or branched at base, 

 gibbous, pubescent, 1-4 dm. long. Leaves lanceo- 

 late or oblong-lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, 

 narrowed at the base, 25-75 mm. long ; petiole 

 slender, usually much shorter than the leaves ; 

 flowers glomerate in all but the lowest axils ; 

 bracts of the involucre linear, 2-3 times as long 

 as the sepals ; sepals linear-lanceolate ; achene 1 

 mm. long. 



Moist shaded places. Transition Zone; Washington, 

 British Columbia and Maine, south to Tennessee, Mexico 

 and northern California. May-Aug. Type locality: 

 Pennsylvania. 



