PLATE 577 



Fleitrta oapensis, Wedd. (In. Ann. So. Nat. Ser. IV., 1854.) 

 Nat. Order Urticacej!. 



An annual herb witli stinging hairs, and monoecious flowers. Stems elongate, 

 erect or prostrate and rooting at the nodes, reaching to 4 to 6 feet in length, much 

 branched ; stems, branches and petioles thickly clothed with stinging hairs which 

 have an inflated tubular base. Leaves alternate, petiolate, ovate-acuminate, 

 sharply, and regularly serrate, except at the obtuse base, 2-3-inches long, 1-2J- 

 inches wide, dark green and subglabrous above, paler and finely pilose on the 

 veins beneath, veins pinnate; petiole 1-1-^-inch long. Inflorescence in axillary 

 panicled cymules which are shorter than the leaves. Male flowers 5-parted, 

 segments broadly lanceolate, spreading, glabrous. Stamens 5, opposite the perianth 

 segments, and exceeding them in length, hypogynous, anthers 2-celled, dorsifixed. 

 l?«male flowers 4-lobed, lobes unequal, the inner largest. Ovary becoming more 

 or less oblique, shortly stalked; stigma sessile, thickened, stigmatose on lowet 

 surface, at length reflexed. Achene roundish, oblique, compressed, glabrous. 



Habitkt: Natal. Inanda, 1,800 ft. alt. PFooi 1251, December, 1880; near 

 Durban 100 ft. alt., June, 1911, PTood 11878. 



The genus Pleurya includes 8 or 9 species, two, perhaps three of which are 

 natives of Natal, the genus differs from Urtica by its alternate leaves, oblique 

 achenes, and thickened- or oblique stigma. The stinging or irritating hairs of 

 F. capensis are confined to the stem, branches, petioles, and peduncles, the 

 small hairs on the leaves being harmless in this respect. Another species of this 

 genus collected in woods near York and Byrnetown (Wood, 1880) is much more 

 irritating than F. capensis, and the natives always give it a wide berth where it is 

 plentiful, it is much worse than the common nettle, Urtica urens, to which these 

 plants are closely related. " 



; Fig. 1, female flower ; 2, perianth of same ; 3, achene and perianth ; 4, achene ; 

 5, longitudinal section of same ; 6, male flower ; 7, stamen ; 8, portion of stem 

 showing hairs; 9, bract; all enlarged. 



