GREEN GROUP 



petioled, broad, acute, plaited, tinged with purple underneath. 

 July and August. 



Bulbs connected by horizontal offsets. This singular 

 orchid, with its insect-like form, is a rare and pleasurable 

 find in the woods from Vermont to Michigan, and south- 

 ward to Florida and Louisiana. 



Stinging Nettle 



Urtica diotca. — Family, Nettle. Flowers, in spikes. Stamens 

 and sepals 4, in pairs; the two outer sepals smaller, all placed 

 around a rudimentary pistil. Leaves, opposite, ovate, heart- 

 shaped, downy underneath. Summer. 



The whole plant is furnished with stinging hairs. A small 

 gland, secreting a poisonous fluid, is at the base of each hair. 

 If one be touched, never so ligntly, I can testify from ex- 

 perience that the hand will burn and sting for hours after- 

 ward. Height, 2 or 3 feet. Common around old outbuild- 

 ings and barns, and in waste places generally. 



Two other species may be mentioned; neither of them 

 quite so vicious. 



Slender Nettle 



U. gracilis is sparingly bristly, quite tall, 2 to 7 feet, with 

 leaves lance-shaped, possessing heart-shaped or round bases, 

 deeply serrate, on tall petioles. Flowers in axillary compound 

 panicles. 



Small Nettle 



U. mens is small and coarse, provided with few stings. Leaves 

 deeply and sharply toothed, ovate, petioled, 3 to 5 -nerved. 



To this Family belong our splendid elm trees; also, the fig 

 and banyan, as well as the hemp plant. These species of 

 nettle are found over the entire Atlantic coast. 



Wood Nettle 



Laportea canadensis, — Family, Nettle. Staminate and pistil- 

 late flowers separate. No corolla. Calyx of 4 sepals, one or two of 

 which are smaller than the others. One side of the stigma hairy. 

 Flowers clustered in cymose heads. Leaves, 5 or 6 inches long, 

 ovate, pointed, long-petioled, feather-veined, with one 2-cleft 

 stipule at base. July to September. 



A plant with stinging hairs, 2 or 3 feet high. Found in 

 rich woods, northward and southward. 



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