UUTICACEiE. 127 



segments of . the perianth. Female flowers with the perianth of 4 

 sepals, the 2 outer ones very small or abortive : ovary free ; stigma 

 sessile, multifid, or filiform. Achene ovoid, compressed, naked or 

 enclosed in the more or less enlarged perianth. 



Annual or perennial herbs, with opposite leaves, and small per- 

 sistent stipules. Flowers sessile, in spikes, rarely in globular heads, 

 on the branches of axillary panicles. Leaves and stem generally with 

 stinmno; hairs. 



Tlic name of this genus of plants is derived from the Latin word uro, I bum, 

 fi'om the uneasy burning sensation produced by the sting of the species. 



SPECIES I— URTICA DIOICA. Lmn. 



Plate MCCLXXIX. 



neich. Ic. ¥\. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XII. Tab. DCLIV. Fig. 1324. 

 Billot, PL Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 457. 



Perennial. Rootstock creeping, with fleshy stolons. Leaves oppo- 

 site, ovate or lanceolate, cordate or rounded at the base, acuminate or 

 acute, coarsely serrate or inciso-serrate, on petioles shorter than the 

 breadth of the lamina. Flowers dioecious. Male and female flowers 

 in glome rules arranged in elongated slightly interrupted spikes, which 

 are combined into branched panicles ; panicles in pairs, longer than the 

 petioles of the leaves; branches of the panicle of the male plants 

 ascending or spreading, those of the female plants recurved. Fruit 

 glomerules minute, few-flowered, not globular. Fruit sepals concave, 

 none of them conspicuously hooded. Plant with stinging hairs. 



In waste ground, hedgebanks, by roadsides, &c. Very common, 

 and generally distributed. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer, Autumn. 



Stem erect, 18 inches to 4 feet high, simple or more rarely branched. 

 Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, variable in breadth, somewhat rugose, from 

 the longitudinal veins being deeply impressed above, but not distinctly 

 so, as the tertiary veins are not so deeply impressed; serratures of 

 the margins variable in depth, with the outer margin curved, so that 

 the point is directed towards the apex of the leaf, the basal ones smaller 

 than the others. Petiole not more than as long as, and often shorter, 

 than the breadth of the leaves. Stipules strapshaped, rather small. 

 Panicles 1 to 3 inches long. Male spikes slender, female rather dense. 

 Nut ovate-ovoid, compressed, olive, nearly smooth, slightly shining, 

 enclosed in the enlarged and connivent inner sepals. Plant hairy ; the 

 stem and leaves on both sides furnished with stout stinging hairs. 

 Leaves dull dark green, paler beneath. 



