198 COMMON CANADIAN WILD PLANTS. 



a large leaf-like 5-9-lobed tract. Stamens 8-16, monadel- 

 plious at tlie base, tlie anther-cells hanging from the apex 

 of the filament. Styles 3, the stigmas cut-fringed, usually- 

 red. Pod separating into 3 globular carpels. A nettle-like 

 weed, with ovate, sparsely serrate, alternate, long-petioled 

 leaves. — Fields and open places. 



Obder LXXXIV. URTICA'CE.ffi. (Nettle P.) 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with monoecious or dicecious (or, 

 in the Elms, sometimes perfect) flowers, with a regular calyx 

 free from the 1-2-oelled ovary which becomes a 1-seeded 

 fruit. Stamens opposite the lobes of the calyx. This Order 

 is divided into four well-marked Suborders. 



Stjbokder I. ULMA'CE.S:. (Elm Family.). 



Trees, with alternate simple leaves, and deciduous small 

 stipules. Flowers often perfect. Styles 2. Fruit a samara 

 winged all round, or a drupe. 



* Fruit a samara ; anthers extrorse. 



1. IIIiiiiis. Flowers in lateral clusters, earlier than llie leaves, pui-plish 



or greenish-yellow. Calyx bell-shaped, 4-cleft. Stamens 4-9; 

 the filaments long and slender. Ovary 2-cellecl, but the sam.ira 

 only 1-seeded. Stigmas 2. 



* * Fruit a dru2)e ; anthers introrse. 



2. Ccltis. Flowers greenish, polygamous, the jjistillate solitary or in 



paiai, appearing with the leaves. Calyx .l-e-parted, persistent 

 Stamens 5-0. Stigmas' 2, long and pointed and recurved. Ovary 

 1-ovnled. 



SueokdehII. ART0CAR'PE.S;. (Bbead-pruit and Fig F.) 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious, crowded in catkin-like 

 spikes or heads, the whole pistillate catkin becoming an 

 aggregate fruit from the enlargement of the calyx in the 

 several flowers. Calyx 4-parted. Stamens4. Ovary 2-cellcd, 

 1 cell eventually disappearing. Styles 2. 



3. Aioi'iis. Pistillate and staminate flowers in separate catkins. Trees 



with milky juice and rounded leaves. Staminate spikes slender. 



