288 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



nerved beneath ; heads whitish, in axillary and terminal clusters, forming a 

 sort of terminal corymb. In waste grounds, 8'-i5' high. July-August. (T) 

 3. E. MACULATA (Spotted Spurge). Mostly hairy ; stem prostrate, dif- 

 fusely branching ; leaves oval, sessile, smoothish above, pale and hairy be- 

 neath, often with large, purple spots above ; heads of flowers in axillary 

 clusters, minute, whitish. A prostrate species, forming flat patches. Com- 

 mon in cultivated grounds. June-September. 



2. Acalypha. Flowers monoecious. Barren flowers very small ; 

 calyx 4-parted ; stamens 8-16, united at base. Fertile flowers few ; 

 calyx 3-parted. Styles 3, elongated, fringed. 



A. VIRGINICA (Three-seeded Mercury}. More or less pubescent ; stem 

 erect or ascending, branching ; leaves ovate or oblong-ovate, serrate ; barren 

 flowers on short peduncles ; pistillate flowers 1-3 together in a large, leaf- 

 like, broad, cordate-ovate, unequally lobed and toothed, acuminate bract, 

 which is longer than the barren spike. In cultivated grounds, 6'-i5' high. 

 August. 



3. Ricinus. Flowers monoecious. Barren flowers calyx 5-partecl ; 

 stamens numerous. Fertile flowers calyx 3-parted ; styles 3, each 2- 

 parted. Capsule prickly, 3-celled, 3-seeded. 



R. COMMUNIS (Castor-oil Plan f). Herbaceous ; stem erect, branching, 

 and mealy in appearance ; leaves peltate, palmate, with the lobes lanceolate, 

 serrate, on long petioles ; fruit prickly. July-August. 



4. Buxus. Flowers monoecious. Barren flowers calyx 3-leaved ; 

 petals 2 ; stamens 4, with a rudimental ovary. Fertile flowers calyx 

 4-leaved ; petals 3. Styles 3. Capsule 3-beaked, 3-celled, 2-seeded. 

 Shrubs. 



B. SEMPERVIRENS (Box). Evergreen ; leaves opposite, ovate or obovate, 

 entire, dark green, the petioles hairy on the margin ; anthers ovate-sagittate. 

 The leaves are sometimes narrowly lanceolate. A dwarf variety is used for 

 edgings. 



Order LXXIV. URTICACE^ (Nettle Family}. 



Trees, or shrubs, usually with a milky or yellowish juice ; or 

 herbs with a watery juice. Leaves alternate or opposite, often 

 rough or hispid, with stinging hairs, frequently stipulate. Flow- 

 ers monoecious, dioecious, or polygamous, in panicles, aments, or 

 fleshy heads. Calyx regular, persistent, rarely wanting, usually 

 3~5-parted. Stamens definite, distinct, inserted on the base of the 

 calyx, usually as many as its lobes, and opposite them. Ovary free 

 from the calyx, i-ovuled. Style i. Fruit a i -seeded utricle, sur- 

 rounded by the membranous or fleshy calyx. 



