STINGING NETTLE. 



[CHAP. 



epipetalous stamens are opposite to the lobes (answering to 

 the petals) of the corolla. If the anthers be low down in 

 the tube of the corolla, carry a straight line up from one 

 of the anthers, and it will be found to coincide with the 



FIG. 21. Vertical section of a flower of Primrose, the calyx being 

 removed. 



middle of one of the 5 lobes of the corolla. This opposition 

 of parts should always be noted when it occurs. In this 

 case it is probably due to the suppression of a whorl of 

 5 stamens exterior to the whorl which is developed. 



The pistil, from its centrical position, we may judge by 

 analogy to consist of 5 coherent carpels, although the 

 superior ovary is one-celled, and the carpels so completely 

 consolidated as to leave no trace of lobing, even in the 

 stigma. Primrose has calyx inferior, gamosepalous ; 

 corolla gamopetalous, regular j stamens epipetalous, pent- 

 androus ; pistil syncarpous, ovary superior. 



n. STINGING NETTLE. Either of our two native 

 species. If the larger one be used it will' be needful to 

 gather two specimens, carefully examining the minute 

 flowers in order to ascertain that in one specimen they 

 enclose stamens, in the other a pistil, because these organs 

 occur in separate flowers (the flowers being imperfect, 

 unisexual or diclinous}, and in the Greater Nettle on 



