T32 UETICACE^. (NETTLE FA-MILY.) 



2. U. dioica, L. If .^ to 1, dio'cious ; stems erect, nearly siinpte. 

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

 liml) much longet- than petiole; stipules 2 between petioles. Floicem in 

 clusters^ forming axillar?/, interrupted racemes^ much longer than petioles, 

 flowering to base — Spring — Lebanon and Hermon to subalpinc 

 regions; Aintiib. 



3. V. piliilifera, L. © or d) .G to 1 or more, monceciom, 

 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 

 YiQ(X\i\iQ\es\ p>istillate Jloioers in glolular heads .01 in diameter, one or 

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

 everywhere below subalpine regions. 



4. U. membraiiacea, Poir. .3 to .4, moncecious or dicecloiis ; 

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

 rounded, or cuneate base, incised-serrate ; stipules solitary leticeeiij^eUoles. 

 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, menibranous rachis — Spring — Fields 

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



8. PARfl£TARIA, L. Pellitory. Uashishat-el-Qams. 



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

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

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

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

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

 straightening themselves elastically at maturity, and thus scattering 

 their pollen. Stigma sessile, brush-like. Staminate flowers IWoiT^Qviect, 

 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. Eoots generally growing in the crevices of w^alls or 

 rocks. 



1. P. officinalis, L. If .3 to .5, jDubescent; 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, groicing little, as long as stamens — Summer 

 — Roadsides and walls; less common than the next. 



2. P. JTudaica, L. If Uashishet-er-Mh. .3 to .5, pubescent ; stems 

 mo7'e or less indurated helmo, diffuse or ascending, simple or branched. 

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

 Bracts connate at l)a%e, somewhat decurrent ; flowers in the forks pistil- 

 late, the others perfect; perigonium growing after flowering, at length 

 longer than stamens — Sjmng — 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. liUsi tallica, L. .3 to .5, pubcrulent; stems filiform, 

 prostrate, branching. Leaves .005 to .015 long, ovate, acute at loth 



