4:02 FLORA OF TEXAS. 



PILEA, Lindl. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious; calyx of the sterile 

 flower 3-4-parted ; stamens 3-4 ; calyx of the fertile flowers 

 3-lobed, tlie lobes iinequa] or nearly equal, commonly with 

 an inflexed scale-like sterile stamen at the base of each ; 

 stigma sessile, tufted ; achenium ovate, compressed, straight. 

 — Low herbs, destitute of stinging hairs; leaves opposite, 

 long-petioled; flowers in axillary cymose clusters. 



P. PUMILA, Gray. Stem angular, simple, smooth, pel- 

 lucid; leaves membranaceous, orate or elliptical, acumi- 

 nate, coarsely serrate, 3-nerved, slightly hairy above ; cymes 

 much shorter than the petiole. (Urtica pumila, L.) Wet 

 shaded places. July-September. Stem 6-12' high; upper 

 leaves 1-2' long, the lower not longer than the petiole 

 Annuals. 



P. HERXIARI0IDE3, Lindl. Stems erect or creeping, 

 branched, tender, pellucid; leaves small, round-obovate, 

 entire, opaque, transversely marked on the upper surface 

 with white raised lines; clusters shorter than the petiole; 

 flowers minute. Shaded moist places. November. Stems 

 2'-4' long; leaves l"-2" long, rather longer than the pe- 

 tiole; achenium very minute, oblong, terete. 



PARIETARIA, Tourn. Pellitory. 



Flowers polygamous, in axillary cymose clusters, sup- 

 ported by a bract-like involucre; calyx of the sterile 

 flowers 4-5-sepalous ; stamens 4-5, inserted around the 

 abortive ovary ; calyx of the fertile flowers 4-parted ; stigma 

 tufted; ovary surrounded by four sterile or sometimes per- 

 fect stamens ; achenium ovoid. — Weak downy herbs, with- 

 out stinging hairs; leaves alternate, entire, long-petioled; 

 flowers minute, greenish. 



P. Pexxsylyaxica, Muhl. Pubescent with straight 

 hairs ; stem simple or sparingly branched ; leaves thin, ob- 



