510 CXXX. URTICACE^E. URTIOA. 



leaves. No tree cultivated in our climate can surpass this in richness and 

 beauty. 



4. FICTJS. 



Gr. avKT). L&t.,Jicus. Celtic, Jlgueren. Teutonic, Jiege. Anglo-Saxon, Jlc. English,^. 



Flowers , fixed upon the inside of a turbinate, fleshy, closed re- 

 ceptacle. cT Calyx 3-parted ; stam. 3. 9 Calyx 5-parted ; ovary 1 ; 

 seed 1. A large genus of trees and shrubs, none North American. 



F. CARICA. Willd. Common Fig. bvs. cordate, 3-5-lobed, repand-dentate ; 

 lobes obtuse, scabrous above, pubescent beneath. Supposed to be a native of 

 Caria, Asia, although cultivated for its fruit in all tropical climes. With us it 

 is reared only in sheltered locations as a curiosity. The delicious fruit is well- 

 known. Leaves very variable. 



SECTION 2. URTICE^J. 



Herbs (in cool climates), with a watery juice. Flowers spicate or 

 paniculate, with a membranaceous calyx. 



5. URTlCA. 



Lat, uro, to burn ; in reference to the stinging species. 



Flowers <?, sometimes cT9. & Calyx 4-sepaled, with a cup-shaped, 

 central rudiment of an ovary ; sta. 4. 9 Calyx 2-leaved, persistent, 

 at length surrounding the shining, compressed 'achenium ; sty. 1. 

 Herbs often with stinging hairs. Lvs. accompanied with stipules. 

 Flowers green, in axillary or subterminal clusters. 



1. U. CANADENSIS (and divaricata. Linn.} Common Nettle. 



Hispid and stinging ; Ivs. on long petioles, broad-ovate, rounded or sub- 

 cordate at base, serrate, acuminate ; panicles axillary, solitary or in pairs, di- 

 varicate, mostly shorter than the petioles, lower sterile, upper fertile and sub- 

 terminal, elongated in fruit. Damp places, U. S. and Can. Stem 2 6f high, 

 mostly simple, flexuous at top. Leaves alternate, large (3 5' by 2 3^ more 

 or less hispid both sides, sometimes nearly smooth. Lower petioles 3' long. 

 Flowers minute, in panicles which vary from 1 4' in length, the fertile pani- 

 cles about 2, nearly terminal and erect, enlarged in fruit. Aug. 



2. U. DIOICA. Dioecious or Stinging Nettle. 



Hispid and stinging ; Ivs. cordate, lance-ovate, conspicuously acuminate, 

 coarsely and acutely serrate, the point entire, petioles thrice shorter ;fls. g or $ 9 , 

 in branching, clustered, axillary, interrupted spikes longer than the petioles. 

 Ij. Waste places, common. Stem 2 4f high, branching, obtusely 4-angled, 

 with opposite, short-stalked leaves which are 3 4' long, and about as wide. 

 Flowers small, green, in axillary clusters, of mean aspect, corresponding with 

 the insidious character of the plant. " Its power of stinging resides in minute, 

 tubular hairs or prickles, which transmit a venomous fluid when pressed." 

 Bigelow. July, Aug. 



3. U. PROCERA. Willd. Tall Nettle. 



St. tall, simple, 4-sided, slightly hispid; Ivs. lanceolate, rough, hispid, 

 prominently 5- veined, acutely serrate ; panicles axillary, very branching, nu- 

 merous, interruptedly spicate, lower ones sterile, upper fertile. Borders ol 

 fields, waste places, N. H., &c. Stem 3 5f high, with a tough bark. Leaves 

 densely strigose-hispid, serratures incurved, acute at each end, or somewhat 

 acuminate at apex, 3 times longer than the petioles. Flowers small, green, in 

 glomerate panicles, on the upper part of the stem. July. Does not sting. 



4. U. PUMILA. Richweed. Stingless Nettle. 



St. ascending, often branched, weak and succulent; Ivs. on long petioles, 

 rhombic-ovate, crenate-serrate, membranaceous and glabrous ; fls. , triandrous, 

 in corymbed heads shorter than the petioles. % In waste places, about build- 

 ings, and in woods, U. S. and Can. Stem fleshy, semi-transparent when grow- 



