•pRTTCACEiE. 465 



2. Roman Nettle. Urtica pilulifera, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 148.) 



An annual like the last, but coarser and taller, attaining 2 feet, and very 

 stinging. Leaves ovate or heart-shaped, deeply and regularly toothed. 

 Male flowers in little, distinct clusters, along peduncles often as long as the 

 leaves ; the females in globular heads, on the summit of a peduncle from ^ 

 to 1 inch long. When in fruit these heads are 4 or 5 hnes in diameter, and 

 thickly beset with stinging bristles. 



On roadsides, and in waste places, in southern Europe. Further north 

 only as an introduced weed in the neighbourhood of villages and habitations, 

 and as such occurs occasionally in some parts of England. Fl. summer and 

 autumn. 



3. Common Nettle. Urtica dioica, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1750.) 



Eootstock perennial and creeping. Stems erect, 2 or 3 feet high, the 

 whole plant of a dark green, and more or less downy, besides the copious 

 stinging bristles. Lower leaves cordate-ovate, the upper ones more or less 

 lanceolate, narrowed at the point, coarsely toothed. Elowers usually dioeci- 

 ous, both the males and females clustered in axillary, branched, spreading 

 spikes, usually about the length of the leaves. 



Along hedges, on roadsides, and in waste places, throughout Europe and 

 Kussian Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, and carried 

 out as a weed to other parts of the globe. Fl. summer and autumn. 



II. PELLZTORV. PARIETAEIA. 



Herbs, with alternate, often entire leaves, and not stinging. Flowers 

 in small axiUary clusters, surrounded by a few bracts, often united into a 

 small inv ucre. Male flowers like those of Nettle, but usually veiy few. 

 Females ith a tubidar or campanulate, 4-lobed perianth, enclosing the 

 ovary ann adhering to tlie seed-hke fruit. Stigma single, tufted, sessile or 

 with a distinct style. Besides these there are a few hermaphrodite flowers, 

 which become enlarged after flowering, but seldom ripen their seed. 



A genus of several species, chiefly from the Mediterranean region and 

 central Asia, with one American one widely spread over a great part of the 

 world. 



1. Wall Pellitory. Parietaria o£5cinalis, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 879.) 



A small, branching perennial, erect the fii-st year, afterwards usually dif- 

 fuse or procumbent, 6 inches or rarely a foot long, more or less downy with 

 short soft hairs. Leaves stalked, varying from ovate to oblong, quite entire. 

 Flowers in sessile clusters, the involucre very small, consisting of 2 or 3 di- 

 vided bracts. 



On old walls, and in waste, stony places, throughout Europe and Russian 

 Asia, except the extreme north. Common in England, Ireland, and southern 

 Scotland, but rare in the north. Fl. the whole summer. 



V 



