232 FLOWERS OF THE ROADSIDES AND HEDGES 



The flowers are in axillary panicled spikes, in pairs, the males in loose 

 panicles, the females dense, bent back. The fruit is small, with a flat 

 border. It is 2-4 ft. in height. Flowers are to be met with between 

 July and September. The plant is perennial, propagated by cuttings. 



The plant is dioecious (hence dioicd] or unisexual. The stamens 

 are elastic; in bud they are curled inwards. The anthers, which are 

 borne on kidney-shaped anther-stalks, open by the coiling of the stalks 

 in bud and the opening of the calyx, and when they uncoil they spring 

 out and disperse the pollen in a small cloud. They open in the sun, 

 and the discharge of pollen goes on for half an hour. The flowers are 

 wind-pollinated. 



The fruit is small, and when ripe falls to the ground or is blown 

 away by the wind. 



Addicted to a sand soil, the Nettle is a sand-loving plant. 



The first stage of a fungus, Puccinia caricis, grows on this, the 

 second on a sedge. Uromyces urticte, Peronospora iirtictf, also grow 

 on it. It is infested by Dodder (Cuscuta europcea), and galled by 

 Cecidomyia urtica. Several beetles, Brachypterus urticce, T/iyamis 

 exoleta, Demetrius atricapillus, Halyzia punctata, Meligcthes hunbaris, 

 Elater sanguinolentus, Longitarsus luridus, Crepidodera ferruginea; 

 the Lepidoptera, Small Tortoise Shell (Vanessa urticee\ Red Admiral 

 ( V. atalantd), Peacock (V. io\ Comma (Grapta c-albuni), Ghost Swift 

 (Hcpialus /mmuli). Reddish Buff (Phragmatobia caliginosa), Light 

 Spectacle (Abrostola urticce), Burnished Brass (Plusia chrysitis), Scarlet 

 Tiger (Callimorpha domimild), Botys verticalis, B. urticata, Choreutis 

 fabriciana, &c. ; Heteroptera, Sehirus bicolor, Heterogaster urticte, 

 Scolopostetkns affinis, Nabis rugosiis, Lygus pabulinns, Pceciloscytus 

 gyllcnhalii, Capsus laniarius\ and the Homoptera, Eupteryx urticce, 

 E. anratns, Trioza urticcc, feed upon it. 



Urtica, Pliny, is from the Latin uro, I burn, and the second Latin 

 name refers to its dioecious character. 



This plant is called Naughty Man's Plaything, Nettle, Stinging 

 Nettle, Scaddie, Stingy Nettle, Tinging Nettle. 



Nettles are thrown on the fire to guard against lightning. It is 

 called Devil's Apron because associated with the evil one, and it was 

 believed it could drive away evil spirits. There is a proverb for those 

 who in spite of every kindness are themselves the reverse: " He that 

 handles a nettle tenderly is soonest stung ". Peasants use nettle tea as 

 a remedy for nettle-rash, and the tops cut in June for a nettle broth. 

 When carried about the person it was said to drive away fear, and so 

 worn in time of danger. 



