426 



URTICACE/E 



(Fiiiis Cdr.ra), the Bread-fruit (Artocdnpus iiuisifnlia), the Jack- 

 frait {A. intcgrifoUa), and the Mulberfy (Alonis nigra) are the 

 chief edible fruits of the (Jrder. The Paper Mulberries of Japan 

 {Broussonetia papyrifera and allied speties), the common Nettles 

 (Urlica), and the closely allied l^hea or Grass-cloth of India, U. 

 (Boehijieria) uivea, and U . Puya, and the Hemp (Cannabis saliva) 

 are the chief fibre-yielding plants in. the Order. The Elms 

 (Ulmus) are valuable timber-trees, and the wood of the Fustic 

 {Madura liiictoria) affords a valuable yellow dye. The liitter 

 principle in the glands on the catkins of the Hop (Hiinnihis 



I'l.MUS SUKCULD-^A (r- 



('?r ^juatl-U-aved Ehn'). 



Lupulus) givL-s it its value as a preservative in beer. The British 

 species of Nettle are well known for the burning properties of the 

 formic acid contained in the stinging hairs with which they are 

 plentifully armed ; but they are not to be compared to the effects 

 of incautiously handling some of the tropical species. In these a 

 slight sensation of pricking is followed by a burning heat, such as 

 would be caused by rubbing the part w.ith a hot iron ; and soon 

 the pain extends and continues for davs, w th symptoms like 

 those of lock-jaw, death even bemg said to have been caused by 

 it. This burning property is dissipated by heat ; and the young 

 shoots of the common Nettle, like those of the Hop, are, when 

 boiled, an excellent substitute for As[iaragus. 



