ORDEB 115. URTICACE^E. 637 



same axiL Rare northward, frequent South. Feb., Mar. (South). Apr. Jo. 

 (North). Eur. 



4 TJ. purpurascens Nutt. Assurgent, beset with spreading stings ; Ivs. broadly 

 ovate, cordate, 3-veined, coarsely crenate-serrate ; gtomerudes capitate, much shorter 

 than the petioles, dense, axillary, spicate at top. Ky. to La, Sis. purplish, 12 

 to 18' high, clustered. Lvs. variegated, 1' long and wide, petiole 6 to 9". Mar. 

 -May. " 



5 U. chamagdroides Ph. St. bristly with stings ; Ivs. subsessile, ovate, serrate, 

 strigous beneath ; glomervles axillary, sessik, subglobous, reflexed. On the islands 

 of Ga. (Pursh.) LTS. small. Stings white and very conspicuous. May. Is this 

 a variety of U. urens ? 



2. LAPOR'TEA, Gaudich. WOOD NETTLE. Flowers 8 or $ $ ; $ 

 calyx 5-partfed ; stamens 5 ; ovary rudimentary, hemispherical ; ? calyx 

 4-sepaled, the 2 outer minute, the 2 inner foliaceous in fruit ; stigma 

 subulate, elongated ; achenia compressed-lenticular, very oblique, finally 

 reflexed on the winged pedicel. It Hairs stinging. Lvs. ample, alter- 

 nate, ovate. Fls. in axillary panicles, the lower sterile, upper fertile. 

 L. Canadensis Gaud. Hispid and stinging ; Ivs. on long petioles, broad-ovate, 



rounded or subcordate at base, serrate, acuminate ; panicles axillary, solitary or 

 in pairs, divaricate, mostly shorter than the petioles, the fertile nearly terminal, 

 elongated in fruit. Damp woods, U. S. and Can. St. 2 to Gf high, mostly simple, 

 flexuous at top. Lvs. 3 to 5' by 2 to 3', more or less hispid both sides, sometimes 

 nearly smooth. Lower petioles 3' long. Fls. minute, hi panicles 1 to 4' in length, 

 the fertile panicle about 2', erect, enlarged in fruit. Aug. (Urtica Canadensis 

 and divaricata L.) 



3. PPLEA, Lindlcy. HIGH-WEED. (Lat pileus, a cap ; from the 

 resemblance of one of the sepals of P. muscosa.) Flowers 8 or $ $ . 



$ Calyx of 3 or 4 equal sepals ; stamens 3 or 4. $ Calyx of 3 oblong, 

 unequal sepals ; stamens rudiments 3, cucullate opposite the sepals ; 

 achenium roughened, opaque, ovate, erect, nearly naked. Smooth, 

 stingless, with opposite Ivs., united stipules and dense, axillary clusters, 

 both kinds mixed. 



P. pumila Gr. Ascending, weak, succulent; Ivs. on long petioles, rhombic- 

 ovate, crenate-serrate, membranous and glabrous, 3-veined; fis. in short clusters; 

 5 sepals slightly unequal. X In waste places, about buildings and in woods, U. 

 S. and Can. St. fleshy, semi-transparent when growing in shades, smooth and 

 shining, 3 to 18' long, simple or branched. Lvs. pale green, 1 to 2' by 8 to 16", 

 petioles of about the same length. Sep. much shorter than the greenish, mottled 

 achenium, one of them a little longer than the other two. Jl. Sept. (Urtica, 

 L. Adiee, Raf.) 



4. BCEHME V RIA, Jacq. FALSE XETTLE. (Named for G. F. Banner, 

 a German botanist.) Flowers > or $ ? . $ Calyx 4-parted, with lan- 

 ceolate, acute segments ; stamens 4 ; $ calyx tubular, truncate or 4- 

 toothed, persistent and closely investing the ovate, pointed achenium. 

 Herbs or shrubs, stingless. Lvs. opposite or alternate. Fls. clus- 

 tered. 



1 B. cylfndrica VTilld. Herbaceous, dioecious, smoottiish ; Ivs. opposite, ovate, 

 acuminate, dentate, on long petioles; sterile spikes interrupted, fertile cylindric. 

 A coarse, nettle-like plant, iu swamps and bottoms, Mid. and "W. States. St. 

 slender, obtusely 4-angled. channeled on each side, 2 to 3f high. Lvs. 3-veined. 

 3 to 5' long, half as wide, petioles 2 to 3', the upper sometimes not quite opposite. 

 Fls. minute, the fertile spikes 1 to 2' in length, the barren spikes longer and more 

 slender. Jl., Aug. (Urtica capitata L ?) 



2 B. laterifiora Muhl. Whole plant rough-pubescent, monoecious ; Ivs. all alter- 

 nate, ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate, dentate, rounded and subpeltato at base, on 



