560 URTICACE^:. 



comprising, almost entirely, rough-leaved plants, which, 

 though they occasionally acquire the stature of trees, 

 have, nevertheless, little more than an herbaceous 

 texture, their wood being remarkable for its lightness 

 and sponginess. They are found in most parts of the 

 world, occurring as weeds in the temperate and colder 

 regions, and attaining a larger size in hot climates. The 

 British species of Nettle (Urtica) are well known for 

 the burning properties of the juice contained in the 

 stings, with which their foliage is plentifully armed. 

 But, painful as are the consequences of touching one of 

 our common Nettles, they are not to be compared with 

 the effects of incautiously handling some of the East 

 Indian species. A slight sensation of pricking is 

 followed by a burning heat, such as would be caused 

 by rubbing the part with a hot iron : soon the pain 

 extends, and continues for many hours, or even days, 

 being attended by symptoms such as accompany lock- 

 jaw and influenza. A Java species produces effects 

 which last for a whole year, and are even said to cause 

 death. Specimens of the Tree-Nettle were measured by 

 Backhouse, in Australia, the trunks of which were found 

 to measure 18, 20, and 21 feet in circumference. In 

 some species the fibre is so strong that cordage is manu- 

 factured from it. The burning property of the juice is 

 dissipated by heat, the young shoots of the common 

 Nettle being often boiled and eaten as a pot-herb, and 

 the tubers of Urtica tuberosa are eaten as potatoes. 



1. URTICA (Nettle). Stamens and pistils in separate 

 flowers, on the same or different plants ; barren flower, 

 perianth of 4 leaves, stamens 4 ; fertile flower, perianth 

 of 2 leaves, 1 -seeded. (Name from the Latin uro, to 

 burn, from its stinging properties.) 



2. PARIETARIA (Pellitory). Stamens and pistils in 

 the same flower ; perianth 4-cleft ; stamens 4 ; filaments 

 at first curved inwards, finally spreading with an elastic 

 spring ; fruit 1 -seeded. (Name from the Latin paries, 

 a wall, where these plants often grow.) 



