510 CXXX. URTICACE^. Urtioa. 



leaves. No tree cultivated in our climate can surpass this in richness and 

 beauty. 



4. FICUS. 



Gr. avKi]. Ldit, Jicus. Celtic, fi^tieren. Teutonic, fcege. Anglo-Sa.\on,^c. English.^g'. 



Flowers <? j fixed upon the inside of a turbinate, fleshy, closed re- 

 ceptacle. (^ Calyx 3-parted ; stam. 3. 9 Calyx 5-parted ; ovary 1 ; 

 seed 1. — A large genus of trees ami shrubs, none North American. 



F. Carica. Willd. Common Fig. — Lvs. cordate, 3-5-lobed, repand-dentate ; 

 lobes obtuse, scabrous above, pubescent beneath. — Supposed to be a native of 

 Caria, Asia, although cultivated ibr its fruit in all tropical climes. With us it 

 is reared only in sheltered locations as a curiosity. The delicious fruit is well- 

 known. Leaves very variable. 



Section 2. URTICE^. 



Herbs (in cool climates), with a watery juice. Flowers spicate or 

 paniculate, with a membranaceous calyx. 



5. URTICA. 



Lat., uro, to bum ; in reference to the stinging species. 



Flowers ^, sometimes d^9. — S" Calyx 4-sepaled, with a cup-shaped, 

 central rudiment of an ovary ; sta. 4. 9 Calyx 2-leaved, persistent, 

 at length surrounding the shining, compressed achenium ; sty. 1. — 

 Herbs often with stinging hairs. Lvs. acco?npanied with stipules. 

 Flowers green, in axillary or subterminal clusters. 



1. U. Canadensis (and divaricata. Linn.) Common Nettle. 



Hispid and stinging ; lvs. on long petioles, broad-ovate, rounded or sub- 

 cordate at base, serrate, acuminate ; panicles axillary, solitary or in pairs, di- 

 varicate, mostly shorter than the petioles, lower sterile, upper fertile and sub- 

 terminal, elongated in fruit. — Damp places, U. S. and Can. Stem 2 — 6f high, 

 mostly simple, flexuous at top. Leaves alternate, large (3 — 5' by 2 — 3^ more 

 or less hispid both sides, sometimes nearly smooth. Lower petioles 3' long. 

 Flowers minute, in panicles which vary from 1 — 4' in length, the fertile pani- 

 cles about 2, nearly terminal and erect, enlarged in fruit. Aug. 



2. U. DioiCA. DioRcioais or Stinging Nettle. 



Hispid and stinging ; lvs. corda'te, lance-ovate, conspicuously acuminate, 

 coarsely and acutely serrate, the point entire, petioles thrice shorter {fls. (? or J^ 9 j 

 in branching, clustered, axillary, interrupted spikes longer than the petioles. — 

 % Waste places, common. Stem 2 — 4f high, branching, obtusely 4-angled, 

 with opposite, short-stalked leaves which are 3 — i' long, and about f as wide. 

 Flowers small, green, in axillary clusters, of mean aspect, corresponding with 

 the insidious character of the plant. " Its power of stinging resides in minute, 

 tubular hairs or prickles, which transmit a venomous fluid when pressed." 

 Bigelow. July, Aug. 



3. U. PROCERA. Willd. Tall Nettle. 



St. tall, simple, 4-sided, slightly hispid; lvs. lanceolate, rough, hispid, 

 prominently 5-veined, acutely serrate ; panicles axillary, very branching, nu- 

 merous, interruptedly spicate, lower ones sterile, upper fertile. — Borders of 

 fields, waste places, N. H., &c. Stem 3 — 5f high, with a tough bark. Leaves 

 densely strigose-hispid, serratures incurved, acute at each end, or somewhat 

 acuminate at apex, 3 times longer than the petioles. Flowers small, green, in 

 glomerate panicles, on the upper part .of the stem. July. — Does not sting. 



4. U. PUMiLA. Rlchweed. Slingless Nettle. 



St. ascending, often branched, weak and succulent ; lvs. on long petioles, 

 rhombic-ovate, crenate-serrate, membranaceous and glabrous \fis. ^ , triandrous, 

 in corymbed heads .shorter than the petioles. — 'Zj. In waste places, about build- 

 ings, and in woods, U. S. and Can. Stem fleshy, semi-transparent when grow- 



