URTICACE^. (nettle FAMILY.) 413 



2. LAPORTEA, Gaudich. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Calyx of the sterile flowei-s 5-parted. 

 Stamens 5, inserted around the abortive ovary. Calyx of the fertile flowers 

 4-sepalous, the 2 inner ones larger. Stigma subulate, hairy on one side. 

 Achenium oblique, tubercular-roughened. — Herbs, with stinging hairs, alter- 

 nate long-petioled serrate leaves, and minute flowers in spreading cymes. 



1. L. Canadensis, Gaudich. Stem hispid ; leaves ovate, acuminate, 

 rounded or cordate at the base ; the veins and petioles hispid ; cymes very 

 slender, single or by pairs, the upper mostly fertile, the lower sterile. (Urtica 

 Canadensis and U. divaricata, Z.) — Low shaded places, Florida, and north- 

 ward. July and Aug. 1|. — Stem 2° - 4° higli. 



3. PILEA, Lindl. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Calyx of the sterile flower 3-4-parted. 

 Stamens 3-4. Calyx of the fertile flowers 3-lobcd, the lobes unequal or nearly 

 equal, commonly with an inflexed scale-like sterile stamen at the base of each. 

 Stigma sessile, tufted. Achenium ovate, compressed, straight. — Low herbs, 

 destitute of stinging hairs. Leaver; opposite, long-petioled. Flowers in axillary 

 cymose clusters. 



1. P. pumila, Gray. Stoiu angular, simple, smooth, pellucid ; leaves 

 membranaceous, ovate or elliptical, acuminate, coarsely serrate, 3-nervcd, slight- 

 ly hairy above ; cymes much shorter than the petiole. , (Urtica pumila, L.) — 

 Wet shaded places, Florida, and nortiiward. July- Sept. (T) — Stem 6' -12' 

 high. Upper leaves 1'- 2' long, the lower not longer than the petiole. 



2. P. herniai'ioides, Lindl. Stems erect or creeping, branched, tender, 

 pellucid ; leaves small, round-obovate, entire, opaque, transversely marked on 

 the upper surface with white raised lines ; clusters shorter than the petiole ; 

 flowers minute. — Shaded moist places. Key West. November. — Stems 2' -4' 

 long. Leaves l"-2" long, rather longer than the petiole. Achenium very 

 minute, oblong, terete. 



4. PARIETARIA, Tourn. Pellitoet. 



Flowers polygamous, in axillary cymose clusters, supported by a bract-like 

 involucre. Calyx of the sterile flowers 4 - 5-sepalous. Stamens 4 - .5, inserted 

 aroimd the abortive ovary. Calyx of the fertile flowers 4-partcd. Stigma 

 tufted. Ovary surrounded by four sterile, or sometimes perfect, stamens. Ache- 

 nium ovoid — Weak downy herbs, without stinging hairs. Leaves alternate, 

 entire, long-petioled. Flowers minute, greenish. 



1. P. Pennsylvanica, Muhl. Pubescent with straight h.airs ; stem sim- 

 ple or sparingly branched ; leaves thin, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, rougliened 

 with minute elevated dots ; clusters dense ; flowers shorter than the involucre. 

 — Shaded rocks in the upper districts. May - July, (j) — Stem 4' - 1 2' high. 

 Leaves 6"- 9" long. 



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