93 



was mistaken by M. Vogel for Benzoic acid. Turner, 660. It may be 

 found in a crystallised state between the skin and the kernel, and exists 

 abundantly in the flowers of Melilotus officinalis. Ed. P. J. 3. 407. It 

 has been found that a peculiar acid, called Carbazotic, is formed by the 

 action of nitric acid upon Indigo. Turner, 641. Sulphur exists in combi- 

 nation with different bases in peas and beans. Ed. P. J. 14. 172. The 

 leaves of the Phaseolus trilobus (called Sem, or Simbi) are considered by 

 Indian practitioners cooling, sedative, antibilious, and tonic, and useful as 

 an application to weak eyes. Trans. M. and P. Soc. Calc. 2, 406, 



LXXVIII. URTICEtE. The Nettle Tribe. 



UaTiCEiT, Juss. Gen. 400. (1789); Lindley^s Synopsis, 218. (1829) C^nosanthe^e 



and CannabinjE, Blume Bijdr. (1825.) both sections o/Urticeae. 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with definite erect ovula, an in- 

 ferior calyx, distinct stipulse, and an embryo with the radicle remote from 

 the hilum. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character — Flowers monoecious or dioecious, scattered or clustered. 

 Calyx membranous, lobed, persistent. Stamens definite, distinct, inserted into the base 

 of the calyx, and opposite its lobes; anthers curved inwards in aestivation, curving back- 

 wards with elasticity when bursting. Ovarium superior, simple ; ovule solitary, erect ; stigma 

 simple. Fruit a simple indehiscent nut, surrounded either by the membranous or fleshy 

 calyx. Embryo straight, curved, or spiral, with or without albumen ; radicle superior, and 



therefore remote from the hilum ; cotyledons lying face to face Trees, or shrubs, or herbs. 



Leaves alternate, with stipulae, hispid or scabrous, often covered with pungent hairs. 



Affinities. The position of the ovulum, the want of milk, the flowers 

 being arranged in loose racemes or panicles, not in fleshy heads, and their 

 habit, distinguish Urticege from Artdcarpese. From Polygoneae they are 

 known by their want of stipuloe, from Chenopodeae and Scleranthese by 

 their stinging or scabrous surface, the position of the radicle, and their 

 elastic stamens ; and from Euphorbiacese by the simplicity of their ovarium; 

 from Betulinese by the presence of a calyx, and from Cupuliferae by their 

 superior simple ovarium. They agree with the two latter orders remarkably 

 in stipulation. 



Geography. Widely dispersed over every part of the world; appearing 

 in the most northern regions, and in the hottest climates of the tropics ; 

 growing now upon dry walls, where there is scarcely nutriment for a moss 

 or a lichen, and inhabiting the dampest recesses of the forest. 



Properties. The tenacity of the fibres of many species is such that 

 cordage has been successfully manufactured from them. The leaves of 

 Hemp are powerfully narcotic. The Turks know its stupifying qualities 

 under the name of Malach. Linnaeus speaks of its vis narcotica, phantas- 

 tica, dementens, anodyna, and repellens. Even the Hottentots use it to 

 get drunk with, and call it Dacha. The Arabians name it Hashish. Ainslie, 

 2. 189. A most powerfully narcotic gum-resin, called in Nipal Cheris or 

 Cherris, is supposed to be obtained from a variety of Cannabis sativa. Ibid. 

 2. 73. The effects of the venomous sting of the common nettles, Urtica 

 dioica, urens, and pilulifera of Europe, are too well known. Their effects 

 are, however, not to be compared for an instant with those of some Indian 

 species. M. Leschenault {Mem. Mus. 6. 362.) thus describes the effect of 

 gathering Urtica crenulata in the Botanic Garden at Calcutta : — " One of 



