NETTLE FAMILV. 387 



smooth. Iminonscly variable under cultivation, and known under many 

 names. The Cokk Elm, U. suhi':r6sa, is a form of this species with 

 thick plates of cork on the branches. 



■*- ■*- F/oivey-s soon hanging on slender stalks, ichirh are jointed above the 

 middle ; fruit orate or oc(d, loith 2 sharp teeth at apex, the margin 

 dowiuj-ciUate, at least when young. 



U. Americana, Linn. Amioiucan or Wuite Klm. Well known large 

 tree, with long ascending branches gradually spreading, drooping slender 

 branchlets, which are smooth as well as the buds, not corky ; the abruptly 

 pointed leaves 2'-4' long ; flowers in close clusters, with usually 7-9 calyx 

 lobes and stamens ; fruit smooth except the margins, its incurved points 

 closing the notch. The tree is very variable in habit of growth. Forms 

 of it are known as Hock Ki,m and Waticu Elm. (Lessons, Fig. 80.) 



U. racemdsa, Thomas. Couky Whitk Elm, Hock El.m of some 

 eastern communities. Hesembles the foregoing, but with downy-ciliate 

 bud scales ; brandies becoming corky, young branchlets somewhat pubes- 

 cent, leaves with straighter veins, and flowers racemed. Vt, S. and W. 



U. alata, Michx. Whauoo or Winged Elm. Va. to Mo. and S. ; 

 small tree, with bud .scales and branchlets nearly smooth, winged plates 

 of cork on the branches, and small thickish leaves (l'-2' long) almost 

 sessile. 



2. PLANERA, PLANER THEE. (,/../. P?«)ier, a German botani.st.) 

 Flinvers greenish, appearing with the leaves in early spring. 



P. aquatica, Gmel. American V. River swamps, from Ky., S. and 

 W.; .small tree ; leaves ovate-oblong, smooth ; fruit stalked in tlie calyx, 

 beset with irregular warts or crests. 



3. CELTIS, HACKBERRY or NETTLE TREE. (Ancient Greek 

 name for the Lotus berry.) Flowers spring; fruit ripe in autumn, 

 eatable. 



C. occidentalis, Linn. American H. Small or middle-sized tree, of 

 rich low grounds ; with reticulated, ovate and taper-pointed, serrate or 

 entire leaves, obliiiue or partly heart-shaped at base, sweet thin-fleshed 

 fruit as large as a pea. Var. ptimila, a straggling bush, chiefly S., only 

 40-10- high. 



4. CANNABIS, HEMP. (The ancient Greek name.) Flowers all 



summer. (1) 



C. sat)ya, Linn. Common Hemp. Tall coarse plant from the Old 

 World ; cult, for the fibers of its stem, and spontaneous in moist yards. 



5. HUMULUS, HOP. (Name obscure.) Flowers summer. "U 



H. Lilpulus, Linn. Common Hop. Wild in alluvial soil N. Eng., W., 

 and also cult, from Eu. for hops ; the aromatic bitterness resides in the 

 yellow resinous grains which appear on the fruiting calyx, akenes, etc.; 

 stems almost prickly downwards ; leaves heart-shaped and strongly 3-7- 

 lobed. 



6. FICUS, FIG. (The Latin, altered from the Greek name of the 



iMU'.) 



F. Cdrica, Linn. Common Fio. Cult, from the Levant, as a liouse- 

 plant X.; leaves broad, 3-5-lobed, roughish above, rather downy beneath ; 

 figs single in the axils, pear-shaped, luscious. (Lessons, Figs. 405-407.) 



