370 URTICACE^. 



base. Leaves 2 to 4 by I to ij^ inches, obovate-acute, 

 wedge-shaped for more than half the length, quite entire, 

 glabrous. Stalk J^ inch ; nerves numerous, slender. 

 Wight Ic. t. 1962. 



Nilgiris : in sholas on the downs, but not common near 

 Ootacamund. Pulneys : Gundattu shola above Kodaikanal 

 but not common. Fyson 1983, 2678. Bourne 676. 



Gen. Dist. ' From the Salt range eastwards along the foot of the 

 Himalayas and southwards to Travancore and Ceylon.' I have not seen 

 the flower or fruit of this species. 



URTICEAl. F.B.I. 136, tribe 7. 



Herbs, shrubs or trees with watery juice (not milky) 

 and unisexual flowers as given for the family (p. 366), 

 disposed in open cymes, or aggregated in small in- 

 volucres : but characterised specially by the stamens 

 being at first bent inwards with reversed anthers, then 

 straightening with a jerk which ejects the pollen, and 

 by the ovule being erect with its micropyle at the 

 opposite end to the hilum, 



LAPORTEA. F.B.I. 136 XXVII. 



Perennial herbs, shrubs or trees with stinging hairs 

 and alternate mostly broad, toothed, feather-nerved 

 leaves, and free or connate deciduous stipules. Flowers 

 in small cymose bunches, arranged on the branches 

 of axillary or terminal panicles. Flowers with the 

 characteristics of the tribe 7 URTICEjE (q.v.). Sepals 

 of female four ; ovary and achene oblique, flattened. 



Species about 25, in Asia, iVustralia, Africa and a few in 

 North America. 



Laportea tcrminalis Wight; F.B.I, v 549, XXVII i ; 

 Nilgiri Nettle. Branches, leaf-stalks and leaves armed 

 with stout stinging hairs. Leaf-stalks 4 to 6 inches ; 



