URTICACE^. (NETTLE FAMILY.) 73l 



long, 2-celled, apiculate. Pistillate floioers in aments, two at base of 

 each leaf-like bract; sepal 1, surrounding the 1-ovuled ovary; stigmas 

 3, subulate, elongated, pubescent; strobile ovate, with enlarged, leafy 

 bracts ; nutlet nearly globular, erect, pericarp hard, brittle ; embryo 

 spiral — Perennial, climbing herbs, with opposite leaves. 



H. Lupulus, L. 11 Stems sarmentose, climbing. Leaves petio- 

 led, retrorsely scabrous at upper surface, serrulate, cordate, .05 to .1 

 long, 3-5-palmatisect into ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate lobes, 

 or undivided. Staminate panicles peduncled, opposite ; bracts short- 

 lanceolate, sepals oblong; pistillate aments opposite, peduncled, 

 developing into ovate strobiles, .015 to .02 long; bracts much enlarged, 

 scarious, beset at outer aspect of base with fragrant, yellow glands — 

 August — Galilee ; Antilebanon ; Damascus. 



The strobiles used to impart their bitter taste and aroma to beer. 



6. CAIVXABI^, Tourn. Hemp. Qinnal). 



Flowers dioecious. Staminate jloicers racemed ; sepals 5 ; stamens 

 5, inserted at base of sepals, filaments nodding, anthers pendulous, 

 2-celled. Pistillate Jloicers spiked-clustered; the place of a perigonium 

 taken by a small, folded, persistent bract, inflated at base, enclosing 

 the globular, 1-ovuled ovary; stigmas 2, elongated, filiform, pubescent, 

 connate at base ; nutlet ovate, erect, pericarp hard, brittle, apparently 

 2-valved but nearly indehiscent; embryo falcate-folded — Annual 

 herbs, with glutinous-inflorescence. 



C. sativa, L. © 1 to 2, scabrous. Leaves digitate, with 5-7, 

 linear - lanceolate, acuminate, coarse-serrate divisions. Staminate 

 racemes panicled; pistillate clusters subsessile, forming a terminal, 

 leafy spike — Summer — Cultivated everywhere for the fibres of the 

 bark, out of '^\^hich cordage is made. 



The dried flowering tops of the pistillate plants, from which the 

 resinous exudation has not been removed are the officinal CannaUs 

 Indica, or Indian Hem]), called in India Gunjali. Bhang is the dried, 

 coarsely broken, larger leaves, mixed with a few of the fruits. Ckurrns 

 is "the resin. 



r. URTICA, L. Nettle. Qurreis. 



Flowers monoBcious or dioecious, in whorled racemes or spikes, or 

 close clusters. Starninate flowers: sepals 4, spreading; stamens 4, 

 opposite sepals, inserted at their base; anthers oblong-reniform; 

 rudimentary ovary cup-shaped. Pistillate floicers : sepals 4, the outer 

 pair much smaller, the inner flat; stigma sessile, brush-like; akene 

 oblong, compressed, enclosed in the enlarged, persistent sepals — Herbs, 

 with opposite leaves and stinging hairs. 



1.. U. ureiis, L. Hiirreiti. ZagliUl. © .3 to. .5, moncecious; 

 stem branching from base, erect. Leaves ovate to oblong, acutely 

 iucised-dentate, limb a little longer than jjctiole ; stipules two, between 

 petioles. Staminate racemes axillary, simple, generally shorter than 

 petiole, less numerous than pistillate —- Spring — Fields and waste 

 places ; common everywhere. 



