412 URTICACEvTC. (NETTLE FAMILY.) 



frith a single erect orthotropous ovule. Stigma simple or tufted. Ache- 

 iruun commonly enclosed in tin: dry persistent calyx. Embryo straight, 

 in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Synopsis. 



* Plants armed with stinging hairs. 



1. URTICA. Stamens 4. Stigma tufted. Achcnium straight. 



2. LAPOKTEA. Stamens 5. Stigma subulate. Achenium oblique. 



* * Plants destitute of stinging hairs. 



+- Flowers in cymose clusters. 



3. TILEA. Clusters naked. Calyx-lobes unequal. Leaves opposite. 



4. PARIETARIA. Clusters involucrate. Calyx-lobes equal. Leaves alternate. 



-i- -t- Flowers in spiked clusters. 



5. BCEHMERIA. Stigmas subulate, leaves opposite or alternate. 



I 



1. URTICA, Tourn. Nettle. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Calyx of the sterile flower 4-parted. Sta- 

 mens 4, inserted around the abortive ovary. Calyx of the fertile flower 4-sepa- 

 lous, unequal; the inner ones dilated in fruit, and enclosing the achenium. 

 Stigma sessile, tufted. Achenium straight, ovate, smooth, compressed. — Herbs, 

 with stinging hairs, opposite leaves, and greenish flowers, in paniclcd spikes or 



close clusters. 



* Flowers in panicled or simple spikes. 



1. U. gracilis, Ait. Stem tall, 4-angled, smoothish, slender ; leaves Ion g- 

 pctiolcd, ovate-lanceolate, coarsely serrate, acute, rounded at the base, 3-5- 

 nerved, smootliish, the petioles bristly ; spikes very slender, loosely paniclcd. 

 (U. proccra, Willd.) — Low ground in the upper districts, and northward. July 

 and Aug. 1J. — Stem 3° -4° higb, mostly simple. Leaves thin, 4' -6' long. 



2. U. dioica, L. Hispid throughout ; stem 4-angled, pubescent above, 

 branching; leaves rather short-petioled, ovate, cordate, acuminate, coarsely ser- 

 rate, pubescent beneath ; spikes much branched ; flowers often dioecious. — 

 "Waste places. In Carolina, Punk. Introduced. June - Aug. y. — Stem 2°- 

 3° high. Leaves 3' -4' long, thicker than in Xo. 1, and flowers larger. 



3. U. capitata, Willd. Stem 4-anglcd, roughish ; leaves large, long- 

 petiolcd, rough, oblong-ovate, slightly cordate, coarsely serrate, 3-nerved ; tliosc 

 on the branches alternate ; spike solitary, leafy at the summit. — Wet shaded 

 places, Nortb and South Carolina, Curtis, Elliott. July and Aug. — Stem 3°- 



5° high. 



* * Flowers in simple clusters shorter than the petioles. 



4. U. Ul'ens, L. Stem 4-ang!cd, hairy ; leaves ovate, coarsely serrate, 

 5-nerved, hairy ; clusters by pairs in each axil, loose, peduncled. — Damp soil. 

 Introduced. Dec. -Feb. (J) — Stem 1° high. 



5. U. Chamaedryoides, Pnrsh. Stem smootb ; leaves small, nearly ses- 

 sile, ovate, coarsely Berrate, hairy beneath, hairy and l>ii>tly above; clusters 

 nearly senile, globose, dense; calyx hairy. — St. Simon's Island, Georgia, 

 Elliott. Feb and March. — Stem 4' - G' high. 



