MONCEC. - TETRAND. 2/1 



8. LITTORELLA. 

 1. L. lacustris (Plantain Shoreweed). Lightf.p.$l\. E. B. 



HAS. Common in most of the Scotch lochs, near the margins. Fl. 

 July, Aug. 



Plant growing in thick tufts. Leaves entirely radical, linear, fleshy, 

 semicylindrical., about 2 inches long. Scapes several. Sterile flowers 

 upon scapes of 2 3 inches long. Calyx of 4 equal segments. 

 Cor. with the tube inflated, limb 4-cleft. Filaments thrice the length 

 of the cor. Anthers yellow. Fertile flowers sessile, 2, sometimes 

 3, together, among the bases of the leaves, without any cal. Cor. 

 3 -partite, closely embracing the gerrnen, which is terminated by a 

 long, filiform style. 



9. ALNUS. 



1. A. glutinosa (common Alder), leaves roundish cuneiform ob- 

 tuse lobed at the margin and serrated somewhat glutinous 

 downy in the axils of the leaves beneath. Lightf. p. 576, and 

 E. B. t. 1508 (Betula Ainu*). 



HAB. Wet and boggy grounds, frequent. FL. May. Fj . 



A well known tree, whose wood is much employed for various pur- 

 poses, and is particularly valuable for the piles of bridges, &c., as 

 its property is to remain undecayed under water for a considerable 

 length of time. The bark and leaves are employed in dyeing and 

 tanning leather, and the former for staining fishermen's nets ; its 

 astringent quality adapting it to this use. Sterile catkins long, 

 large, and cylindrical, pendent, their footstalks branched. Ferlite 

 catkins small, ovate, with deep red scales. Lightfoot mentions a 

 var. which has hoary leaves, more acute and less viscid. 



10. URT1CA. 



1. U. nrens (small Nettle), leaves opposite elliptical with about 

 5 ribs, clusters of flowers nearly simple. Lihtf. p. 5 78. 

 E.B.M236. 



HAB. Waste places, dunghills, &c. Fl. July Sept. Q . 

 Stems about 1 foot high. This is by far the most annoying of the 2 

 Scotch nettles. 



2. U. dioica (great Nettle), leaves ovate acuminate cordate at 

 the base, clusters of flowers much branched in pairs mostly 

 dioecious. Lightf. p. 578. E. B. t. 1/50. 



HAB. Waste places and hedge banks, abundant. Fl. July, Aug. 2/ . 



The roots, boiled with alum, dye yarn of a yellow colour. Of the fibres 

 of the stalk a kind of hemp has been manufactured. The young 

 tops of nettles are frequently boiled and eaten by the common peo- 

 ple ; and in Arran, and others of the Western islands, a rennet is 

 made of a strong decoction of nettles. According to Lightf., a quart 

 of salt is put to 3 pints of the decoction, which is then bottled and 

 fit for use. A common spoonful of this liquor will coagulate a large 

 bowl .of milk very readily. 



