Minnesota Plant Life. 



255 



The wood-nettles, from their name to be looked for in the 

 forest, have tall stems as much as four feet in height, stinging 

 hairs like the ordinary nettles, and flowers disposed in axillary 

 compound clusters. The leaves are thin, shaped much like 

 those of the stinging nettle, and provided with a solitary stip- 

 ule which often falls off. The clearweecls have no stings. The 

 leaves are opposite and the stems are translucent and succulent, 

 resembling the stems of the touch-me-not. The leaves are del- 

 icate and thin. The flower clusters are borne on short stems 

 in the axils of the leaves. The clearweed is a shade-plant, 

 preferring deep woods where there is an abundance of moisture. 

 The false nettles resemble the true nettles in outward appear- 

 ance and are found in similar localities. They have, however, 

 no stinging hairs. The pellitories have willow-shaped leaves, 

 are devoid of stipules and develop the flowers in little clusters 

 at the bases of alternate leaves. The flower clusters are of the 

 general nettle type. 



The tenth order is best developed in Australia and South 

 Africa and has no native forms in Minnesota. 



