WASTES AND WAYSIDES IN SUMMER 



209 



and a small, green perianth of four segments ; while the females 

 consist of an ovary with a tufted stigma, surrounded by a perianth 

 of four segments the two inner of which are larger, or of two 

 segments only. The fruit is a small, 

 flattened nut, enclosed in the persis- 

 tent perianth. The distinguishing 

 characters of the three species are as 

 follows : 



1. The Small Nettle [Urtica 

 iirens). — An erect herb, from one to 

 two feet high, with leaves and stem 

 smooth with the exception of the stiff, 

 stinging haii-s. The leaves are thin, 

 elliptical, deeply and regularly toothed ; 

 and the flowers are in unbranched 

 axillary spikes which are shorter than 

 the petioles, the males and females 

 being intermixed. This is a common 

 species, flowering from June to 

 Sej)tember. 



2. The Great Nettle {U. dioica). — 

 A dark green herb, from one to four 

 feet high, more or less clothed with 

 soft downy hairs in addition to the 

 stiff, stinging ones. The lower leaves 

 are ovate or cordate, coarsely toothed ; 

 and the upper ones narrower. The 

 spikes of flowers are branched, longer 

 than the petioles, in the axils of the 

 leaves. The flowers are very similar 

 to those of the Small Nettle, but the 

 males and females are usually on 

 separate plants. This is a very 

 common species, flowering from June 

 to September. 



3. The Roman Nettle {U. jnlidifem). — A coarse, erect plant, 

 from one to two feet high, with stinging hairs more powerful than 

 those of the other species. The leaves are ovate or cordate, deeply 

 and regularly toothed. The male flowers are in clusters along 

 the peduncles, which are often as long as the leaves ; and the females 

 are in globular heads at the top of stalks from half an inch to an 



CANARY CtKASS. 



