Urtica.l MONOECIA — TETRANDRIA. 345 



10. Alnus. Tourn. Alder. 



1. A. glutinosa, Gsert. (common Alder); leaves roundish-cunei- 

 form obtuse lobed at the margin and serrated somewhat gluti- 

 nous downy in the axils of the nerves beneath. Hook, in Fl. 

 Lond. N. ^. t. h^.—Betula Alnus, L. — E.Bot.t. 1308. 



Wet meadows and moist grounds by water, iVequent. — " The Alders 

 dank that fringe the pool." FL. March, Apr. \ . — A well known (i-ee, 

 whose ivood is employed for various purposes and is particularly valua- 

 ble for the piles of bridges, as it remains undecayed under water for a 

 considerable length of time; thus the celebrated and ancient bridge 

 called the Rialto, at Venice, is built on Alder-piles; as are many large 

 edifices at Amsterdam. The bark and leaves are employed in dyeing and 

 tanning leather: the former for staining sabots or wooden shoes, (which 

 are also made of the tree) and fishermen's nets ; its astringent quality 

 strongly recommending it for the latter purpose. Sterile catkins long, 

 large and cylindrical, pendent, their footstalks branched. Fertile catkins 

 small, ovate, with deep-red scales. 



11. Buxus. Linn. Box. 



1 . B. sempervirens, L. (^common Box-tree); leaves oval oblong 

 retuse convex coriaceous shining, their stalks slightly hairy, 

 anthers ovato-sagittate. E. Bot. t. 1341. 



Dry chalky hills, principally in the south of England. Fl. April. Tj . 

 — A small /;-ee, if suffered to attain its natural stature. A dwarf var. 

 is extensively employed as edgings in gardens. The loood is of great 

 value for turning, carving, and engraving upon. 



12. UuTfcA. Linn. Nettle. 



1. U. pilulifera, L. {Roman Nettle); leaves opposite ovate ser- 

 rated with transverse nerves, fertile flowers in globular heads. 

 E.Bot.t. 148. 



Under walls and among rubbish, principally near the sea. In Norfolk 

 and Suffolk. Ballylickey, S. of Ireland. Fl. June, July. — The 

 most venomous of our British Nettles. 



2. U. ureiis, L. {sinall Nettle); leaves opposite elliptical with 

 about 5 nearly parallel ribs, clusters of flowers sub-simple. E. 

 Bot. t. 1236. 



Waste places and cultivated ground, frequent. Fl. June — Oct. 0. 



3. U. dioica, L. {great Nettle); leaves ovate acuminate cordate 

 at the base, clusters much branched in pairs mostly dioecious. 

 E.Bot.t. 1750. 



Waste places, under walls and hedge-banks, frequent. Fl. July, Aug. 

 l^^—The root, boiled with alum, dyes yarn yellow; from the fibres of 

 the stalk a kind of hemp is manufactured, as with the U. cannabina of 

 N. America. In Scotland the young tops of the nettles are boiled arid 

 eaten by the common people, " Nae doubt I suld understand my am 

 trade of horticulture, seeing I was bred in the parish of Dreepdaily, near 

 Glasco', where they raise lang-kail under glass and force the early net- 

 tles for their spring-kail."— ^«(/re?/; Fairservice, in " Rob Foy:\ 



