464 THE ITETTIB FAMILY. 



LXX. THE NETTLE FAMILY. UETICACE^. 



Herbs, or, in exotic genera, trees or shrubs, with leavea 

 usually rough or stinging, more or less conspicuous stipules, 

 and small, herbaceous, unisexual flowers. Perianth in the 

 males regular and simple. Stamens as many as segments of 

 the perianth and opposite to them, or rarely fewer. Perianth 

 of the females often less divided. Ovary free or rarely adhe- 

 rent to the perianth, with a single ovule, and 1 or 2 styles or 

 stigmas. Pruit small, 1-seeded, dry or rarely succulent. Seed 

 with or without albumen, the radicle pointing upwards. 



A very large Order, cliiefly tropical, of which the few British species 

 give a very inadequate idea. It is readily distinguished from the Sprirge 

 family by the single-seeded fruit, from the Catkin family by the regular 

 perianth of the male flowers. 



Erect herbs. Tjeaves opposite 1. Nettl-e. 



Erect or procumbent herb. Leaves alternate 2. Pellitoet. 



Tall twiner. Leaves opposite 3. Hop. 



Among exotic genera in cultivation may be mentioned the Hemp (Can- 

 nails), which, although an erect herb, is in many respects allied to the Hop; 

 the Fic) (Ficus), in which the flowers are collected in great numbers witliin- 

 side a succulent receptacle, popularly called the fruit ; and the Mulberry 

 (Morus), in which the flowers are collected in heads on the outside of a re- 

 ceptacle, and become succulent as the fruit ripens. 



I. NETTLE. UETICA. 



Erect herbs, with stinging hairs and opposite leaves. Flowers in axillary 

 clusters or spikes ; the males with a perianth of 4 segments and 4 stamens ; 

 the females with a perianth of 2 segments, or, if 4, the 2 inner ones larger. 

 Fruit a flattened seed-like nut, enclosed in the perianth. Stigma single, 

 sessile, and tufted. 



A considerable genus, generally distributed over the globe. 



Annual and monoecious. Flowers in nearly sessile short clusters . . . 1. Small N. 

 Annual and monceeious. Male flowers in loose spikes. Females in 



stalked, globular heads 2. Soman If. 



Perennial, usually diceeious. Flowers in branched spikes 3. Common jf. 



1. Small Nettle. XJrtica urens, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1236.) 



An erect, branching annual, seldom above a foot high and often only a 

 few inches, glabrous with the exception of the stiff, stinging hairs. Leaves 

 ovate or elliptical, deeply and regularly toothed, more tender than in tlie 

 two other species. Flowers male and female intermixed, in small, loose, 

 almost sessile axOlary clusters. 



In cultivated and waste places, especially in rich soils, throughout Europe 

 and Russian Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, and car- 

 ried out as a weed of cultivation to other parts of the world. Common in 

 Britain. Fl. the whole season. 



