URTICACEAX. (NETTLE FAMILY.) 418 
2. LAPORTEA, Gandich. 
-~ Flowers moneecious or diccious. Calyx of the sterile flowers 5-parted. 
Stamens 5, inserted around the abortive ovary. Calyx of the fertile flowers 
4-sepalous, the 2 inner ones larger. Stigma subulate, hairy on one side. 
Achenium oblique, tubercular-roughened. — Herbs, with stinging hairs, alter- 
nate long-petioled serrate leaves, and minute flowers in spreading cymes. 
1. L. Canadensis, Gaudich. Stem hispid ; leaves ovate, acuminate, 
rounded or cordate at the base; the veins and petioles hispid; cymes very 
slender, single or by pairs, the upper mostly fertile, the lower sterile. (Urtica 
Canadensis and U. divaricata, Z.) — Low shaded places, Florida, and north- 
ward. July and Aug. 1} — Stem 2°-4° high. 
8. PILEA, Lindl. 
Flowers moneecious or dicecious, Calyx of the sterile flower 3 -4-parted. 
Stamens 3-4. Calyx of the fertile flowers 3-lobed, the lobes unequal or nearly 
equal, commonly with an inflexed scale-like sterile stamen at the base of each. 
Stigma sessile, tufted. Achenium ovate, compressed, straight. — Low herbs, 
destitute of stinging hairs. Leaves opposite, Ed: Flowers in axillary 
cymose clusters. 
Ep pumila, Gray. Stem. angular, npk, aik, pellucid ; leyes 
membranaceous, ovate or elliptical, acuminate, coarsely serrate, 3-nerved, slight- 
ly hairy above; cymes much shorter than the petiole. (Urtica pumila, Z.) — 
Wet shaded places, Florida, and northward. July- Sept. G — Stem 6/-12! ` 
hi Upper leaves 1' - 2' long, the lower not longer than the petiole. 
2. P. herniarioides, Lindl. Stems erect or creeping, branched, tender, 
pellucid ; leaves small, round-obovate, entire, opaque, transversely marked on 
‘the upper surface with white raised lines; clusters shorter than the petiole ; 
flowers minute. — Shaded moist places, Key West. November.— Stems 9! — 4! 
long. Leaves 1"-2" long, rather longer than the petiole. Achenium very 
minute, oblong, terete. : 
4. PARIETARIA, Tourn. PELLITORY. 
-Flowers polygamous, in axillary cymose clusters, supported bya bract like 
| involucre. Calyx of the sterile flowers 4 — 5-sepalous. Stamens 4 —5, inserted 
around the abortive ovary. Calyx of the fertile flowers 4-parted. Stigma 
tufted. Ovary surrounded by four sterile, or sometimes perfect, stamens. Ache- 
.hium ovoid. — Weak downy herbs, without stinging hairs. Leaves alternate, 
.fütire, long-petioled. Flowers minute, greenish. 
l. P. Pennsylvanica, Muhl.  Pubescent with straight hairs; stem sim- 
Ple or sparingly branched; leaves thin, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, roughened 
With minute elevated dots; clusters dense; flowers shorter than the involucre. - 
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