Urtica. monoecia tetr anuria. 581 



miiia none. Germ superior, oblong, liairy, two-celled, with 

 two ovula in each, attached to the top of the partition. Stijle 

 scarcely any. . Stigma of four, brown, glandular, recurved 

 lobes. Capsule nearly round, ihesize ofa black currant, pret- 

 ty smooth, olive-coloured, two-celled, four-valved. Valves 

 composed of" two coats, the exterior one (Viable, the inner one 

 thin and tough like parchment, its incurved edges forming the 

 partition. Seeds generally single, though sometimes two, in- 

 teguments three, the exterior one succulent and orange co- 

 loured, the second thin, firm, and white like parchment, and 

 the inner one membranaceous. Perisperm conform to the 

 seed, white. Embryo green, inverse. Cotyledons obovate. 

 Radicle superior. 



URTICA. Schreb. gen. N. 1422. 

 Male calyx four-leaved. Carol none. Female calyx 

 one-leaved, or two-valved. Coral none. .Seerf solitary. 



1. U. scahrella. R. 



Shrubby, spreading. Leaves opposite, cordate, serrate, 

 harsh, three-nerved. ^/^/A-es axillary, erect, cylindric ; the 

 male ones crowded, short, and in the lower axills; i\\e female 

 ones above and generally solitary. 



A native of Chittagoiig, where it is common, but so far as 

 I know, applied to no useful purpose; nor does it sting, 

 though harsh to the feel. It flowers about the end of the rains, 

 and the seed ripens in the cool season. 



2. U. parviflcra. Roxb. 



Dioecous, herbaceous, erect, armed with numerous strong, 

 harsh, pellucid, stinging bristles. Leaves opposite, ovate, 

 lanceolate, serrate. Stipules undivided. Female spikes 

 quatern, compound, glomerate. 



A native of Rohilcund. In the Botanic garden where it was 

 mtroduced in 1803, it blossoms in March, and April, but has 



