130 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



permanently established in any of these localities. In Ireland it has 

 been found near Bantry and Carberry, but doubtless introduced. 



[England, Ireland.] Annual, [Biennial or Perennial. Gren. & 

 Godr.'\ Late Summer, Autumn. 



Stem 1 to 3 feet high, erect, simple, or branched. Leaves IJ to 4 

 inches long, on much longer petioles than those of U. dioica, which they 

 othermse closely resemble. Stipules ovate, much broader than those of 

 U. dioica; the chief difference, however, lies in the inflorescence, 

 which, in the case of the female flowers, is not collected into spikes, 

 but forms rounded heads, which in fruit become globular and as large 

 as a black currant. The inner sepals also are much larger and turned 

 over at the apex. The seed is pitchy brown, longer in proportion and 

 much larger than that of the common nettle. 



The var. 3 has a very different aspect from the leaves being entire, 

 but is not constant in this when raised from seed, and very frequently 

 individuals occur with the leaves entire and serrate, or partially 

 serrate. Mr. H. C. Watson, in his " Cybele Britannica," vol. ii. 

 p. 370, was the first to point out the impossibihty of separating the 

 two as distinct species. 



Roman Nettle. 



French, Ortie a pihdes. German, Pillentragende Nessel. 



A ciu'ious story is told by Camden of this species. He writes : " That when Julius 

 Caesar landed at Romney, the soldiers brought some of the nettle seed with them, and 

 sowed it there for their use, to rub and chafe their limbs, when, through extreme cold, 

 they should be stiff and benumbed, being told before they came from home that the 

 climate of Britain was so cold that it was not to be endured without some friction 

 to warm their blood." 



SPECIES III.— U RTICA URENS. Lin7i. 



Plate MCCLXXXII. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XII. Tab. DCLII. Fig. 1320. 

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



Annual. Leaves opposite, oval, rounded or truncate at the base, 

 subobtuse or subacute, deeply inciso-serrate, on petioles usually as 

 long as the breadth of the lamina. Flowers monoecious. Male and 

 female flowers intermixed, in glomerules arranged in short simple 

 spikes ; female flowers the most numerous ; spikes in pairs, shorter than 

 the petioles of the leaves, ascending or spreading. Fruit glomerules 

 minute, few-flowered, not globular; fruit sepals concave, none of them 

 hooded. Plant with stinging hairs. 



A weed in cultivated ground, and in waste places and by roadsides. 

 Common, and generally distributed. 



