URTICACEAE. 107 



2. Pilea tenerrima Miquel, Linnaea 26: 219. 1854. 



Stems very slender or nearly filiform, usually tufted, prostrate or nearly 

 so, somewhat fleshy, 3-10 cm. long, more or less branched. Leaves suborbicu- 

 'lar or obovate, usually thin and flaccid, the blades 3-6 mm. long, rounded or 

 obtuse at the apex, obliquely narrowed or obtuse at the base, the raphides 

 linear, 0.3-0.5 mm. long, irregularly transverse, the slender petioles 2-5 mm. 

 long; flowers and achenes similar to those of the preceding species of which it 

 may be a slender, small-leaved race. 



Crevices of rocks, Andros, Eleuthera, Rum Cay, Long Island, Acklin's and 

 South Caicos : — Florida; Cuba; St. Jan; Ariegada ; Curasao; Jamaica. Tliis plant 

 has been confused with P. hcrniurioides (Sw.) Lindl., of wet mountain rocks In 

 Cuba and Jamaica. Small lace-plant. 



3. ROUSSELIA Gaud. Bot. Voy. Freyc. 503. 1830. 



A low, diffuse, perennial herb, without stinging hairs, the leaves alternate, 

 entire, the small axillary flowers monoecious. Staminate flowers in small 

 racemes, the calyx 4-parted, the stamens 4, the ovary rudimentary. Pistillate 

 flowers geminate, 2-bracted, sessile, the bracts foliaceous; calyx ovoid, dentate; 

 ovary straight; style filiform, curved, plumose on one side. Achene flat, ovate, 

 acute, surrounded by the bracts. Seed with a membranous testa and scanty 

 endosperm. [Commemorates H. F. A. de Roussel, professor at Caen.] A 

 monotypic genus. 



1. Rousselia humilis (Sw.) Urban, Symb. Ant. 4: 205. 1905. 



Urtica humilis Sw. Vet. Akad. Stockh. Handl. 6: 34. 1785. 



Urtica lappulacea Sw. loc. eit. 8: 69. 1787. 



Eoiisselia lappulacea Gaud. Bot. Voy. Freyc. 503. 1830. 



Pubescent; stems slender, branched, prostrate or ascending, 1-4 dm. long. 

 Leaves ovate, membranous, 3-nerved, 0.5-3 cm. long, acute or obtuse at the 

 apex, rounded at the base; stipules minute; bracts of the pistillate flowers 

 ovate, 3-4 mm. long, entire; achene shining, about 2 mm. long. 



On rocks, New Providence at Nassau: — Cuba to St, Thomas; Jamaica. Rous- 

 selia, 



Order 6. S ANT AL ALES. 



Trees, or shrubs, and a few species herbaceous, many of them para- 

 sitic on the roots or branches of other plants, Avith simple, mostly entire 

 leaves, and inconspicuous clustered perfect or imperfect flowers, the 

 corolla present or wanting. Ovary partly or wholly inferior, compound. 

 Stamens as many or twice as many as the sepals or petals. Fruit various. 

 Seeds mostly with fleshy endosperm. A large order, mostly tropical. 



Green parasites with opposite leaves. Fnm. 1. Loranthaceae. 



Trees or shrubs, mostly with alternate leaves. i^am. -. ulacaceah.. 



