84 



FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 



The two preceding families were forinerly united with tlie true nettles 

 in a single family, I)ut under the modern conception of natural affinities 

 are considered as distinct groups. 



Some of the plants in this family have strong bast tiber which ma}^ 

 be utilized like hemp, but aside from this they are of no economic 

 value, and many are troublesome weeds. Familiar exami)les of the 

 latter are the various true nettles {^[^rtiea); the wood nettle ( /"V/Zm-y- 

 t I'll III); and the rich weed or clear weed {Adicea). 



Fig. 69.— The Stinging Nettle (Urtica urens). Original. 



