NETTLE FAMILY. 121 



The Showy Lady-slipper, Cypripedium hirsiitum Mill., 

 stem one to two feet high, hirsute, usually in clumps; 

 flowers pink; sepals rounded; lip oblong, much inflated, 

 white marked with crimson; moist woods, Newfoundland 

 to Manitoba and southward. 



NETTLE FAMILYUrticaceae. 



THE STINGING NETTLE, Urtica dioica L., is one of a 

 well known group whose stinging hairs secrete a poison 

 that causes burning and itching inflammation of the 

 skin. It is found from the Atlantic to the prairies. It is 

 an erect plant with thin, ovate, toothed, sharp-pointed 

 leaves, cordate at the base, and with long petioles. The 

 flowers, in large clusters, are either staminate or pistil- 

 late. The stem and leaves are provided with stinging 

 hairs. 



THE SLENDER NETTLE, Urtica gracilis Ait., produces 

 the same effect. It is from two to seven feet high and 

 rarely branched. The leaves are more slender than in 

 Urtica dioica and are not cordate at the base. THE WEST- 

 ERN NETTLE, Urtica Lyallii Wats., THE SMALLEST STING- 

 ING NETTLE, Urtica urens L., and THE WOOD NETTLE. 

 Laportea canadensis (L.) Gaud., produce similar results. 



The juice of the Jewel Weed, Impatiens bi flora- Walt, 

 gives relief from the inflammation caused by Nettles. The 

 plant is three feet or more tall, grows plentifully in moist 

 places, and is easily recognized by its translucently yel- 

 lowish-green stem and sac-like, pendent, orange flowers 

 spotted with brown. Relief is obtained by rubbing the 

 crushed stem on the inflamed area, sometimes an enor- 

 mous reduction of swelling following its application. 



