63 C Ordeb, 115.— URTICACEjE. 



Order CXV. URTICACE^E. Nettleworts. 



Herbs (and some tropical shrubs) with a watery juice, a tough, fibrous bark. 



Leaves stipulate, often opposite, flowers small, mouoecious or dioecious, in panicles, 



racemes, or dense clusters, furnished with a regular calyx. Stamens opposite to the 



calyx lobes. Ovary 1-celled, ovule erect, orthotropous. Fruit a simple achenium. 



Fig?. 50, 459. 



Genera 25, species 700* generally diffused in .ill climes. "We retain under this order the Can- 

 nabineie, dismissing the Artocarpe®, thus constituting a group which is at least practically 

 natural. 



Properties*. — The Nettleworts are remarkable for tho caustic secretion of their glandular, 

 stinging hairs, which, bad enoush in our common nettle, attains a terrible virulence in certain 

 E. Indian species. The juice of the llempworts is bitter and narcotic. Savage nations pro- 

 cure an intoxicating liquor from tho Hemp, and tho more, civilized a strong stimulant from the 

 Hop. The flbrous bark of Hemp and other species is highly valuable in the arts. 



SUBORDERS AND GENERA. 



L UUTICEiE. — Filaments crenulate, expanding clastically. Fertile calyx 3 to 5-sepaled or 

 toothed. Seed albuminous, with a straight embryo (*). 



* Herbs with stinging hairs. — Stamens 4. Leaves opposite Urtica. 1 



— Stamens 5. Leaves alternate Laportea. 1 



* Herbs stingless. — Stamens 3. Fertilo calyx 8-sepaled. Leaves opposite Pilea. 8 



— Stamens 4. — Fls. iu slender spikes. Lvs. opp. or alt Bceiimeria. 4 



— Fls. in involucrato cymes. Lvs. altern. .Parii:taria. 5 

 II, CANNABINE..E. — Filaments straight, or not elastic. Fertilo calyx of 1 sepal, lateral, em- 

 bracing tho ovary: Seed cxalbuminous, with a curved or spiral embryo (*). • 



* Fruit a vaiveless achenium, in a strobile-like ament. Twining IIcmulus, 6 



* Fruit a 2-valvedcaryopsis, in axillary pairs. Lvs. digitato Cannabis. 7 



i. UR'TICA, Tourn. Nettle. (Lat. uro, to burn; in reference to 

 the stinging species.) Flowers 8 , sometimes $ $ ; $ calyx 4-sepaled, 

 with a cup-shaped, central rudiment of an ovary ; stamens 4 ; ? calyx 

 persistent, 4-sepaled, the outer pair minute, the inner at length sur- 

 rounding the shining, compressed achenium ; stigma 1, sessile. — Herbs 

 with stinging hairs. Lvs. opposite. Fls. green, in axillary or subter- 

 minal clusters or racemes. 



§ Clusters compound, longer than the petioles Nos. 1, 2 



§ Clusters simple, shorter, or not longer than the petioles Nos. 8—5 



1 TJ. procera "Willd. St. tall, simple, i-sided, slightly hispid with few stings ; lvs. 

 lanceolate, acute or obtuse at base, rough, hispid, prominently 5-veined, acutely ser- 

 rate; panicles axillary, very branching, numerous, interruptedly spicate, lower 

 ones sterile, upper fertile. — Borders of fields, waste places, N. Eng. and Can. St 

 3 to 5f high, with a tough bark. Lvs. with the serratures incurved, acute or 

 somewhat acuminate at apex, 3 times longer than the petioles. Fls. in glomerate 

 panicles on tho upper part of tho stem. Jl. (TJ. gracilis Ait.) 



2 TJ. dioica L. Stinging Nettle. Very hispid and stinging ; lvs. cordate, lance- 

 ovate, conspicuously acuminate, coarsely and acutely serrate, the point entire, pet- 

 ioles thrice shorter ; fls. 8 or 6 $ , in branching, clustered, axillary, interrupted 

 spike3 longer than tho petioles. — If. Waste places, common. Stem 2 — 4f high, 

 branching, obtusely 4-angled, with opposite, short-stalked leaves which are 3 — 4' 

 long, and about £ as wide. Flowers small, green, in axillary clusters, of mean 

 aspect, corresponding with the insidious character of the plant. JL, Aug. 

 § Eur. — Its power of stinging resides in minute, tubular hairs or prickles, which 

 transmit a venomous fluid when pressed. 



3 TJ. urens L. Dwarf Nettle. Lvs. broadly elliptic, or ovate, pctiolate, 3- 

 veined, deeply and acutely serrate ; clusters in spike-like, loose, simple pairs.— -(J) 

 Weed, in cultivated grounds. Stem 12 — 20' high, hispid with venomous sting*, 

 branching. Leaves 1' or more long, half as broad, on short petioles and with 

 large serratures. Stipules small, lanceolate, reflexed. Flowers in drooping, pe- 

 dunculate clusters about as long aa the petioles, both tho sterile and fertile in the 



