412 URTICACEH. (NETTLE FAMILY.) 
with a single erect orthotropous ovule. Stigma simple or tufted. Adi. 
nium commonly enclosed in the dry persistent calyx. Embryo ami 
in the axis of fleshy albumen. D. 
Synopsis. POR 
* Plants armed with stinging hairs. 
1. URTICA. Stamens 4. Stigma tufted. Achenium straight. 
2. LAPORTEA. Stamens b. Stigma subulate. Achenium oblique. 
* * Plants destitute of stinging hairs. 
*- Flowers in cymose clusters. 
9. PILEA. Clusters naked. Calyx-lobes unequal. Leaves opposite. 
4. PARIETARIA. Clusters involucrate, Calyx-lobes equal. Leaves alternate. ' 
+ + Flowers in spiked clusters. : 
5. BEHMERIA. Stigmas subulate, leaves opposite or alternate. ae 
l. URTICA, Toum. NETTLE. ES 
Flowers moneecious or diccious. Calyx of the sterile flower 4-parted. eo 
mens 4, inserted around the abortive ovary. Calyx of the fertile flower Asp ud 
lous, unequal; the inner ones dilated in fruit, and enclosing the achenium. 
Stigma sessile, tufted. Achenium straight, ovate, smooth, compressed. — d 
with stinging hairs, opposite leaves, and greenish flowers, in ties ue 
close clusters. à; 
* Flowers in panicled or simple spikes. 
1. U. gracilis, Ait. Stem tall, 4-angled, smoothish, slender ; We 
petioled, ovate-lanceolate, coarsely serrate, acute, rounded at the base, sae 
nerved, smoothish, the petioles bristly; spikes very slender, loosely 
(U. procera, Willd.) — Low ground in the upper districts, and northward. wy 
and Aug. )|— Stem 3°-4° high, mostly simple. Leaves thin, 4'- 6! long. 
2. U. dioica, L. Hispid throughout; stem 4-angled, pubescent abore, 2 
branching ; leaves rather short-petioled, ovate, cordate, acuminate, coarsely P: de 
rate, pubescent beneath; spikes much branched; flowers often ees a 
Waste places. In Carolina, Pursh. Introduced. June- Aug. i-r 
3° high. Leaves 3! - 4! long, thicker than in No. 1, and flowers larger : 
3. U. capitata, Willd. Stem 4-angled, roughish; leaves large, pt 
petioled, rough, oblong-ovate, slightly cordate, coarsely serrate, 3-ne 
on the branches alternate; spike solitary, leafy at the sarii 
use places, North and South Carolina, Curtis, Elliott. July and Aug. 
(8 high. 
* * Flowers in simple clusters shorter than the petioles. 
ie Cy. urens, L. Stem 4-angled, hairy; leaves ovate, CO p 
Snerved, hairy ; clusters d oor in each axil, loose, pedaneled.— D E 
