732 uRTicACE^. (nettle family.) 



2. U. dioica, L. If .^ to ly dioecious ; stems erect, nearly simple. 

 Leaves oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, subcordate at base, coarse-serrate, 

 limb much longer than 2^etiole; stipules 2 between petioles. Flowers in 

 clusters, forming axillary, interru'pted racemes, much longer than petioles, 

 flowering to base — Spring — Lebanon and Hermon to subalpinc 

 regions; Aintab. 



3. U. pilulifera, L. © or (D .G to 1 or more, monoecious, 

 occasionally glabrous ; stems erect, usually branching. Leaves ovate 

 to cordate, coarse-toothed ; stipules two between petioles. Staminate 

 and pistillate inflorescence in the same axils, or the lower axils having 

 only staminate flowers ; staminate flowers in spike-like racemes on long 

 -^t&ViViQUQ^', pistillate fioioers in globular heads .01 in diameter, one or 

 rarely two on a peduncle, at length nodding — Spring — Common 

 everywhere below subalpinc regions. 



4. U. luembrauacea, Poir. .3 to .4, moncedous or dioecious; 

 stems erect or ascending, branchirg. Leaves ovate, with cordate, 

 rounded, or cuneate base, incised-serrate ; stipules solitary beticeen petioles. 

 Flowers in twin, axillary spikes ; the staminate lowermost, on a non- 

 dilated rachis, shorter than petioles ; the pistillate uppermost, inserted 

 on the upper surface of a dilated, membranous rachis — Spring — Fields 

 and waste places of coast, and lower mountain regions; common. 



8. PARIETARIA, L. Pellitohy. BasUshat-el-Qazdx. 



Flowers polygamous, the perfect, staminate, and pistillate inter- 

 mixed in the same axillary, involucrate-bracted cluster. Perfect flowers : 

 perigonium of 4, nearly equal sepals, slightly united at base, spreading 

 before flowering, concave, growing after flowering; stamens 4, free, 

 inserted at base of sepalg, transversely fluted, inflexed before flowering, 

 straightening themselves elastically at maturity, and thus scattering 

 their pollen. Stigma sessile, brush-like. Staminate floicers like T^yeviQct^ 

 but lacking an ovary. Pistillate flowers : perigonium tubular, 4-toothed 

 at apex, persistent, not growing after flowering; style exserted, stigma 

 tufted; akene ovate, enclosed in the persistent perigonium — Annual 

 or perennial, tender herbs, not furnished with stinging hairs, with 

 alternate leaves. Roots generally growing in the crevices of walls or 

 rocks. 



1. P. officinalis, L. If .3 to .0, pubescent; stems nearly 

 simple. Leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate, tapering at base. Bracts 

 free, not decurrent ; flowers in the forks pistillate, the others perfect; 

 perigonium campanulate, growing little, as long as stamens — Summer 

 — Roadsides and walls; less common than the next. 



2. P. Juclaica, L. If Hashishet-er-Mh. .3 to .5, pubescent ; stems 

 more or less indurated heloio, diffuse or ascending, simple or branched. 

 Leaves icedge-shaped at base, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, more or less acute. 

 Bracts connate at base, somewhat decurrent; flowers in the forks pistil- 

 late, the others perfect ; perigonium groioing after floicering, at length 

 longer than stamens — Spring — On walls, and fissures of rocks; common 

 everywhere. Probably a niere variety of P. oflicinalis, L. Varies with 

 petioles from one-sixth to one-third as long as lamina. 



3. P. LiiMtaiiiea, L. .3 to .5, puberulent; stems filiform, 

 Leaves .005 to .015 lon£f, ©vate, acute at both 



