UETICACE.E— NETTLE TRIBE 127 



fertile flower, perianth of i uueqiuil segments, 1 -seeded. Name from the 

 Latin itro, to burn, from the stings. 



2. Pellitory (Pariefdria). — Stamens and pistils mostly in the same 

 flower ; perianth 4-cleft ; stamens 4 ; filaments at first curved inwards, finally 

 spreading, with an elastic spring; fruit 1-seeded. Name from the Latin 

 }Mrics,,a, wall, from its place of growth. 



3. Hop (Hmnulus). — Stamens and pistils on dift'erent plants ; barren 

 flo\\ers in panicles, perianth of 5 sepals ; stamens 5 ; fertile flowers in pairs 

 in the axils of large scales, which form a catkin-like head, each containins: 

 2 styles and 1 seed. Name from the Latin huinns, rich soil, in which the 

 plant thrives. 



1. Nettle {Urtica). 



\. Roman Nettle (U. pilulifera). — Leaves egg-shaped, or heart-shaped, 

 tapering to a point, with transverse nerves, coarsely toothed ; clusters of 

 fruit globose, stalked ; seeds granulate ; annual. A variety of this Nettle, 

 the U. dodartii of Linnaeus, has egg-shaped, or egg-shaped lanceolate leaves, 

 nearly entire. It is described as growing at Copford, in Essex ; Upwell, 

 Norfolk ; and Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire ; but is probably not truly indi- 

 genous. The Roman Nettle is a rare plant in this country, and found about 

 towns and villages, near walls or ruins, or on heaps of refuse. It occurs 

 more frequently near the sea-coast of the eastern counties than elsewhere. 

 It is remarkable for its stalE:ed clusters of globose fruits. The plant grows 

 on the Denes, near Lowestoft. Parkinson says, " It hath been found growing 

 of old at Lidde by Romne}', and in the streets of Romney in Kent " ; but 

 the plant is not now found at all in that neighbourhood. Camden tells us, 

 that the Roman soldiers under Julius Coesar, having landed at Romney, 

 Avhere they remained some time, sowed there some seeds of the Roman 

 Nettle, Avhich they had brought from Italy. He adds, that having heard 

 much of the coldness of our climate, they thought it was not to be endured 

 without some friction that might warm their blood ; they therefore used this 

 Nettle to warm and chafe their benumbed limbs. But Roman skins must 

 have been little sensitive if they could derive any comfort from the applica- 

 tion, for the stings of this species are far more virulent than those of our , 

 common Nettle. It is a tall and large plant, and bears its green flowers from 

 June to August. 



2. Great Nettle {U. dioica). — Leaves egg-shaped and heart-shaped, 

 serrated; flowers in axillary spikes, much branched, longer than the leaf- 

 stalks ; seeds smooth, opaque ; perennial. There are few who have not 

 known in early days the pain caused by the sting of the Nettle — few Avho 

 have not at some time or other had the skin reddened and blotched by its 

 virulence. Both the English and Latin names of this genus refer to these 

 stings, for the word Nettle is but an alteration of the Anglo-Saxon nefel, 

 Avhich is itself a derivation from nirdl, signifying in the same language a 

 needle ; while the Latin name is from uro, to burn. The sting of the Nettle 

 is a tubular hair, perforated at or near its extremity, and in its whole structure 

 resembling the fang of a serpent. Its point is extrem.ely hard and brittle, 

 and readily pierces the skin, while at its base, among the cellular substance 



