268 CLASSIFICATION 



then the long-stalked ovary projects beyond the 

 involucre and droops down on one side of the latter. 

 The stamens then mature, elongate one after another, 

 and take up the position occupied by the stigmas at 

 the first stage. Pollination is effected mostly by flies. 

 Pedilanthus or rang-chita is closely allied to Euphor- 

 bia in the structure of the inflorescence and flower, 

 but the involucre is boot-shaped and devoid of glands. 

 It is also distinctly protogynous. 



Euphorbia and Pedilanthus are amply provided with 

 LATiciFEROUS vessels. 



Nat. Order 6. Urticacece. — Herbs, shrubs, or trees, 

 usually with a milky juice. Leaves often stipulate. 

 Flowers usually small, greenish, unisexual, rarely 

 bisexual. Perianth in one whorl, connate or free, 

 inferior. Stamens equal in number and opposite to 

 the perianth lobes. Ovary superior, i- or rarely 2- 

 celled, with one ovule in each cell. Seeds with or 

 without albumen. 



The distribution is chiefly tropical. As it is a large 

 and composite family it is divided into several tribes, 

 of which four, including some of the well-known 

 Bengal plants, are mentioned here.. 



Tribe Urtice^, including the genera Fleurya^ 

 Bwhmeria, &c. Fleurya interrupta is the well-known 

 erect annual herb of waste places known by the Ben- 

 gali name of lal-bichuti, a quite different plant from 

 jal-bichuti. It has: male, calyx 4-leaved, corolla o; 

 and female, calyx connate and cup-shaped, corolla o; 

 stamens 4, inflexed in bud; ovary i-celled, i-ovuled. 

 The Rhea or Chinese Grass {Boehmeria nivea) is a 

 shrub with herbaceous shoots, largely cultivated for 

 its silky fibre known as rhea fibre. Pouzolzia indica 

 is a marsh herb with samaroid fruit. 



Tribe Cannabine^, including the genus Can- 



