MONOCHLAMTDE^. 637 



calyx. Seed solitary {fig. 760), erect; embryo {fig, 760) straight, 

 enclosed in albumen ; and -with a superior radicle, r. 



Fig. 1006. Fig. 1007. 



Fig. 1006. Male flower of the Sraall Nettle (Urtica vrens). c. Calyx, e, e, 



e, e. Stamens, with 2-celled anthers, pr. Rudimentary pistil. Fig, 



1007. Vertical sertiou of the pistil of Urtica Vrens. p. Wall of the ovary, 

 s. Stigma, o. Ovule. 



Distribution, cfc. — The plants of this order are more or less 

 distributed over the world. Examples of the Genera : — Urtica, 

 Bcehmeria, Parietaria. The order contains above 300 species. 



Properties a7id Uses. — Chiefly remarkable for yielding valuable 

 fibres, and for the acrid stinging juice contained in their glands. 



Boshmeria. — Several species yield valuable fibres, as B. Puya (Pooah fibre), 

 in Nepaitl and Sikkim, and B. speciosa (Wild Rhea). The most celebrated 

 of them all, however, is B. n ivea, from which the fibres are obtained that 

 are used in the manufacture of the celebrated Chinese grass-cloth, and 

 for other purposes. These fibres are now largely used in this country for 

 textile fabrics, &c. The Rhea fibre of Assam, one of the strongest knowB 

 fibres, is also obtained from this plant. 



Parietaria officinalis. Wall Pellitory, is by many regarded as a valuable 

 diuretic and lithontriptic. 



Urtica, Nettle. — The Nettles ai'e well known from theu- stinging glands. 

 Some of the East Indian species, as r. crenulata, U. stimulans, and more 

 especiaDy U. u}-enti.s.si?7U(, produce verj- violent effects. Flagellation by a 

 bunch of nettles (Urtica dioica or U. urens) was formerly employed in palsy, 

 &c. U. baccifera is employed as an aperient in the West Indies ; the root 

 of U. pilulifera is regarded as diuretic and astringent ; and an infusion of 

 the leaves of U. dioica, commonly known as Nettle Tea, is much itsed in 

 certain parts of this country as a purifier of the blood. Some Nettles, 

 as U. tuberosa, have edible tubers ; others yield useful fibi-es, as Urtica 

 hetei'ophylla, Neilgherry Nettle, and U. tenacissima. 



Natural Order 211. CA>rxABiNACE.a;. — The Hemp Order. — 

 Character. — Rough herbs with a watery juice. Leaves aXter- 

 nate, lobed, stipidate. Flovjcrs small, unisexual, dioecious. 

 Male flowers in racemes or panicles. Calyx scaly, imbricated. 

 Stamens 5, opposite the sepals ; filaments filiform. Female flowers 

 in spikes or strobiles {fig, 395), each flower with 1 sepal sur- 

 rounding the ovary, which is superior and 1 -celled, and con- 



