Ciulmnia.] OXIX. UETICACE^. 1481 



Eudimeary pistil subulate. Female perianth of 4 segments imbricate in the 

 bud. Style simple, with a filiform stigma. Fruit a syncarp formed of the 

 enlarged somewhat fleshy perianths and receptacle. Nuts free but enclosed 

 within the perianths and pAjrtially immersed in the receptacle, the pericarp, 

 jcrustaceous. Seeds nearly globular, the testa membranous ; albumen very 

 scanty or none. Cotyledons broad and thick, folded over the long incurved 

 radicle. — More or less climbing shrub, often armed with axillary spines (abortive 

 peduncles). Leaves alternate. Flower-heads axillary. 



The genus Is probably limited to a single species, extending from Eastern Africa over East 

 India and the Archipelago and northward to Japan. 



1. C. javanensis (of Java), Trend, in Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. 3, viii. 123 ; Betith. 

 Fl. Austr. vi. 179. Cookspur Thorn. A- shrub usually climbing, attaining 

 1ft., in diameter and the stems clothed V(rith loose yellowish bark,, 

 quite glabrous except the inflorescence. Leaves petiolate, oblong or elliptical^ 

 usually acute or acuminate but sometimes obtuse, quite entire, 1| to 3in. long, 

 penniveined and reticulate, but the veins impressed not prominent. Spines 

 straight or recurved, attaining about l^in. Flower-heads solitary or 2 together, 

 on peduncles of 1 to 3 lines, the males 2 to 3 lines diameter, the females smaller 

 at first but attaining 6 to 8 lines when in fruit, and usually slightly tomentose. — 

 Bureau in Ann. Sc. Nat. ser, 5, xi. 378, with the several synonyms adduced ;. 

 Madura javanica, Miq.; Blume Mus. Bot. ii. 83, t. 31; Morits calcar-ffalli, A. 

 Cunn. Herb. 



Hab.: Brisbane Biver, Moreton Bay, A. Cunningham, F. v. Mueller; Eockhampton,, 

 O'Shanesy ; Stewart's Creek, Bowman ; Rockingham Bay, Dallacliy ; Mackay E.ver.. 

 Sntherland. 



Woo.l dark-yellow, close-grained, a desirable cabinet wood. — Bailey's Cat. Ql. Woods, No. 396. 



The leaves are sometimes infested with the blight-fungus, Rhythma hypoxantimm, E. Br. 



Var. Bancroftii. This is a very beautiful variagated plant not differing from the typical form 

 in habit. 



9. URTICA, Linn. 

 (Referring to the stinging properties of some species.) 

 Flowers monoecious or dioecious, clustered but distinct. Male perianth 

 depressed-globular in the bud, deeply divided into 4 concave nearly equal 

 segments. Stamens 4 ; with a small rudimentary pistil. Anthers oblong- 

 reniform. Female perianth with 2 outer segments usually smaller than the 

 2 inner, which become enlarged and ovate when in fruit. Stigma sessile or 

 nearly so, tuited or divided into long cilia. Nut small, dry, enclosed in or 

 surrounded by the persistent perianth. Herbs or rarely shrubs, more or less 

 sprinkled or covered with rigid stinging hairs. Leaves opposite, toothed^ 

 5, 7 or rarely 3-nerved. Stipules interpetiolar, free or the 2 on each 

 side united into one. Flower clusters in axillary simple or branched interrupted 

 spikes or panicles, usually shorter than the leaves, and often shorter than the 

 petioles. 



The genus is widely spread over the extra-tropical regions of both the northern and 

 southern hemispheres in the New as well as the Old World, more rare within the tropics. 

 The only indigenous Australian species is also in New Zealand, and is a close representative 

 of a common northern one. — Benth. 



Perennial. Male and female flowers in distinct inflorescence 1. Xf. incisa. 



Annua). Male and female flowers in the same inflorescences 2. *U. urens. 



1. U. incisa (the leaves cut), Poir. ; Wcdd. in DC. Prod. xvi. i. 52 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. vi. 190. " Cood-mo-ro," Forest Hill, Macartney. A perennial, 

 with stems usually weak or decumbent at the base, sometimes slender and rarely 

 1ft. long, sometimes trailing to the length of 10 or 12ft., glabrous between the 

 stinging hairs. Leaves usually on long petioles, lanceolate or almost linear, 



