J 62 



URTICACE^. 



[part I. 



they are serrated on the edges, and rough on 

 the surface. The stems are angular, covered 

 with small prickles, and twining from left to 

 right. The fibres of the stem when separated 

 by soaking in water, are found to possess the 

 same kind of tenacity as those of the Nettle and 

 the Hemp, and may be made into cloth. The 

 young shoots when boiled, are very good to eat 

 as a substitute for asparagus. The leaves are 

 furnished with stipules, and the flowers spring 

 from the axils of the leaves. 



The Hemp (^Cannabis sativd)^ is an annual. 

 The male and female flowers are on different 

 plants as in the Hop and the Nettle. The male 

 flowers are produced in panicles, and the female 

 ones in heads separated by bracts, as shown in 

 a magnified female flower at a in Jig. 74. The 

 ripe fruit or nut is enveloped in 

 a scale as shown at b ; and c is 

 a highly magnified section of 

 the nut. The male flower has 

 five stamens, and a calyx of 

 five sepals. The leaves are 

 opposite or alternate, and digi- 

 tate, that is cut into five long 

 segments like fingers, though 

 the upper leaves have only three 

 segments. They are serrated on the margin, 

 and rouffh on the surface. The fibres of the 



Fig, 74.— Hemp. 



(Cannabis sativa.) 



