436 URTICACEJ5. (NETTLE FAMILY.) 



2. LAPORTEA, Gaudich. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Calyx of the sterile flowers 5-parted 

 Stamens 5, inserted around the abortive ovary. Calyx of the fertile flowers 

 4-sepalous, the 2 inner sepals larger. Stigma subulate, hairy on one side. 

 Aclienium oblique, tubercular-roughened. Herbs, with stinging hairs, alter- 

 nate long petioled serrate leaves, and minute flowers in spreading cymes. 



1. L. Canadensis, Gaudich. Stem hispid; leaves ovate, acuminate, 

 rounded or cordate at the base ; the veins and petioles hispid ; cymes very 

 slender, single or by pairs, the upper mostly fertile, the lower sterile. Low 

 shaded places, Florida, and northward. July - August. 1}. Stem 2 4 

 high. 



3. PILEA, Lindl. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Calyx of the sterile flower 3 - 4-parted. 

 Stamens 3-4. Calyx of the fertile flowers 3-lobed, the lobes unequal or nearly 

 equal, commonly with an inflexed scale-like sterile stamen at the base of each. 

 Stigma sessile, tufted. Achenium ovate, compressed, straight. Low herbs, 

 destitute of stinging hairs. Leaves opposite, long petioled. Flowers in axil- 

 lary cymose clusters. 



1. P. pumila, Gray. Stem angular, simple, smooth, pellucid; leaves 

 membranaceous, ovate or elliptical, acuminate, coarsely serrate, 3- nerved, 

 slightly hairy above; cymes much shorter than the petiole. Wet shaded 

 places. July - Sept. (T) Stem 6' -12' high. Upper leaves 1' - 2' long, the 

 lower not longer than the petiole. 



2. P. herniarioides, Lindl. Stems erect or creeping, branched, ten- 

 der, pellucid ; leaves small, round-obovate, entire, opaque, transversely marked 

 on the upper surface with white raised lines ; clusters shorter than the peti- 

 ole; flowers minute. Shaded moist places, Key West. Nov. Stems 2' -4' 

 long. Leaves 1"- 2" long, rather longer than the petiole. Achenium very 

 minute, oblong, terete. 



4. PARIETARIA, Tourn. PELLITORT. 



Flowers polygamous, in axillary cymose clusters, supported by a bract-like 

 involucre. Calyx of the sterile flowers 4 - 5-sepalous. Stamens 4-5, inserted 

 around the abortive ovary. Calyx of the fertile flowers 4-parted. Stigma 

 tufted. Ovary surrounded by four sterile, or sometimes perfect, stamens. 

 Achenium ovoid. Weak downy herbs, without stinging hairs. Leaves al- 

 ternate, entire, long-petioled. Flowers minute, greenish. 



1. P. Pennsylvanica, Muhl. Pubescent with straight hairs; stem 

 simple or sparingly branched ; leaves thin, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, rough- 

 ened with minute elevated dots ; clusters dense ; flowers shorter than the 

 involucre. Shaded rocks in the upper districts. May -July, (l) Stem 

 4' - 1 2' high. Leaves 6" - 9" long. 



2. P. debilis, Forst. Pubescent with straight and hooked hairs inter- 

 mixed ; stem much branched, pellucid ; leaves ovate, mostly acuminate, but 

 obtuse, roughened with elevated dots ; clusters loose, spreading ; flowers as 



