•112 riiTicACE.K. (nt-ttm; family) 



with a pinj^l** orcct orthotropotis (iviiU-. Sligina yimplt^ or tufted. Aclio- 

 niiun ooininoiily onclosi'd in tlic. dry persistent calyx. Embryo straight, 

 in the a.\is of (Icsliy allninuii. 



Synopsis. 



• PlantR armed with stiuging hiiir.4. 



1. URTICA. Stamens 4. Stigma tufted. Acjicnium straight. 



2. LAPOUTKA. Stamens 5. Stigma subulate. Aohenium oblique. 



* • Plants destitute of utiuging hairs. 

 ■<- Flowers in cjmose clusters. 



3. PILEA. Clusters naked. Calyx-lobes unequal. Leaves opposite. 



4. PARIKTAUIA. Clusters iuvolucrate. Calyx-lobes equal. Leayes alternate. 



•1- <- Flowers in spiked clusters. 



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



1. URTICA, Toiim. Nkttle. 



Flowers monoecious or diwcious. Calyx of the sterile flower 4-parte(l. Sta- 

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

 lous, unequal ; the inner ones dilated in fruit, and enclosinjj the aeheniuin. 

 Stigma sessile, tufted. Achenium straif^ht, ovate, smooth, eorni)ressod. — Herbs, 

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



close clusters. 



* Fioivnrs in panided or simple spikes. 



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

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

 ncrved, smootliish, t!ic petioles bristly ; spikes very slender, loosely panieled. 

 (U. procera, Willcl.) — Low ground in the upper districts, and northward. July 

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



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

 branching ; leaves rather sho:t-petioled, ovate, cordate, acuminate, coarsely ser- 

 rate, pubescent beneath ; spikes much branched ; flowers often dia-cious. — 

 Waste places. In Carolina, PiirsA. Introduced. June -Aug. y. — Stem 2°- 

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



3. TJ. capitata, Willd. Stem 4-angled, roughish ; leaves large, long- 

 petioled, rough, oblong-ovate, slightly cordate, coarsely sen'ate, 3-nerved ; those 

 on the branches altci-nate ; spike solitary, leafy at the summit. — "Wet shaded 

 places, North and South Carolina, Curtis, Elliott. July and Aug. — Stem 3° - 

 5° high. 



* * Flowers in simple clusters .shorter than the petioles. 



4. U. urens, L. Stem 4-angIed, hairy ; leaves ovate, coarsely serrate, 

 .'i-ncrvcd, hairy ; dusters by pairs in each axil, loose, pedunclcd. — Damp soil. 

 Introduced. Dec. -Feb. (T —Stem 1° high. 



5. TJ. Chamsedryoides, Pursh. Stem smooth ; leaves small, nearly ses- 

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

 nearly sessile, plobosc, dense ; calyx hairy. — St. Simon's Island, Georgia, 

 Elliott. Feb. and March. — Stem 4' - 6' high. 



