112 urticaceje. (xettle family.) 



with a single erect orthotropous ovule. Stigma simple or tufted. Aehe- 

 niuin commonly enclosed in the dry persistent calyx. Embryo straight, 

 in the axis ft' fleshy albumen. 



Synopsis. 



* riants armed with stinging hairs. 



1. I'RTTCA. Stamens 4. Stigma tufted. Achenium straight. 



2. LAPORTEA. Stamens 5. Stigma subulate. Achenium oblique. 



» » Plants destitute of stinging hairs. 

 ■i- Flowers in cymose clusters. 



3. FILF.A. Clusters naked. Calyx-lobes unequal. Leaves opposite. 



1. 1' AKIKTA1MA. Clusters involucrate. Calyx-lobes equal. Leaves alternate. 



+- ■*- Flowers in spiked clusters. 

 5. BCEIDIERIA. Stigmas subulate, leaves opposite or alternate. 



1. TJRTICA, Tourn. Nettle. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Calyx of the sterile flower 4-parted. Sta- 

 nnous 4, inserted around the abortive ovary. Calyx of the fertile flower 4-sepa- 

 lous, unequal ; the inner ones dilated in fruit, and enclosing the achenium. 

 Stigma sessile, tufted. Achenium straight, ovate, smooth, compressed. — Herbs, 

 with stinging hairs, opposite leaves, and greenish flowers, in panicked spikes or 



close clusters. 



* Floivers in panicled or simple spikes. 



1. U. gracilis, Ait. Stem tall, 4-angled, smoothish, slender ; leans long- 

 led, ovate-lanceolate, coarsely serrate, acute, rounded at the base, 3-5- 



nerved, smoothish, the petioles bristly; spikes very slender, loosely panicled. 

 ( 1'. procera, Willd.) — Low ground in the upper districts, and northward. July 

 and Aug. y. — Stem 3° -4° high, mostly simple. Leaves thin, 4'-6' long. 



2. U. dioica, L. Hispid throughout ; stem 4-angled, pubescent above, 

 branching ; leaves rather short-pctiolcd, ovate, cordate, acuminate, coarsely ser- 

 iate, pubescent beneath; spikes much branched; flowers often dioecious. — 

 Waste places. In Carolina, Pursh. Introduced. June- Aug. 1J. — Stem 2°- 

 3° high. Leaves 3' -4' long, thicker than in No. 1, and flowers larger. 



:s. U. capitata, Willd. Stem 4-angled, roughish ; leaves huge, long- 



petioled, rough, oblong-ovate, slightly cordate, coarsely Berrate, 3-nerved ; those 



on the branches alternate ; spike solitary, leafy at the summit — Wei shaded 



. North and South Carolina, Curtis, Elliott. July and Aug. — Stem8°- 



5° high. 



* * Flowers in simple clusters shorter than tht petioles, 



4. U. U.rerj.8, L. Stein 4-angled, hairy; leave- ovate, COarSClj sen-ate, 



5-nerved, hairy; clusters by pairs in each axil, loose, peduncled. — Damp soil. 

 Introduced. I » c I b. —Stem 1° high. 



5. U. Chamrjedryoidcs, I'mOi. Stem smooth; leaves small, nearly ses- 

 sile, ovate, coarsely senate, hairy beneath, hairy and bristly above; clusters 

 nearl] sessile, globose, dense; calyx hairy. — St. Simon's Island, Georgia, 

 Elliott. Feb and March. — Stem 4'- C high. 



