CHAP. X.] URTICACE^. 157 



CHAPTER X. 



THE ORDER URTICACE/E : ILLUSTRATED BY THE COMMON NETTLE ; 

 THE HOP ; THE HEMP ; THE PELLITORT OF THE WALL ; THE 

 BREAD-FRUIT TREE ; THE JACK-TREE ; THE COW-TREE OR 

 PALO DE VACCA ; THE UPAS OR POISON-TREE OF JAVA ; THE 

 MULBERRY ; THE PAPER MULBERRY ; THE OSAGE ORANGE, OR 

 MACLURA ; THE COMMON FIG ; FICUS SYCAMORUS ; THE BAN- 

 YAN TREE ; THE INDIAN-RUBBER TREE ; AND FICUS RELIGIOSA. 



This very large order is divided into two dis- 

 tinct tribes, which many botanists make separate 

 orders ; the one embracing the herbaceous 

 species with watery juice, and the other the 

 hgneous species, all of which have their juice 

 milky. The botanical construction of the 

 flowers is, however, strikingly alike in all, from 

 the nettle and the humble pellitory of the wall, 

 to the fig and bread-fruit tree. In all the 

 genera, the male and female flowers are distinct, 

 that is to say, some of the flowers have only 

 stamens, and the others only a pistil ; the latter, 

 of course, being the only ones that produce 

 seed. None of the flowers have any corolla ; 

 and in all the male flowers, the stamens, which 

 are erect at first, spring back with elasticity to 

 discharge their pollen, and afterwards remain 

 extended. The seeds of all are enclosed in nuts : 

 though the eatable part varies, being in some 



