426 urticace^: 



(Ficus Car'ca), the Bread- fruit (Artocdrpus incisifolia), the Jack- 

 fruit (A. integrifolia), and the Mulberry (Morus nigra) are the 

 chief edible fruits of the Order. The Paper Mulberries of Japan 

 (Broussonetia papyrifera and allied species), the common Nettles 

 (Urtica), and the closely allied Rhea or Grass-cloth of India, U. 

 (Boehmeria) nivea, and U. Puya, and the Hemp (Cannabis saliva) 

 are the chief fibre-yielding plants in the Order. The Elms 

 (Ulntus) are valuable timber-trees, and the wood of the Fustic 

 (Madura tinctbria) affords a valuable yellow dye. The bitter 

 principle in the glands on the catkins of the Hop (Humulus 



AutOS surculosa {Common small-leaved Elm). 



Lupulus) gives it its value as a preservative in beer. The British 

 species of Nettle are well known for the burning properties of the 

 formic acid contained in the stinging hairs with which they are 

 plentifully armed ; but they are not to be compared to the effects 

 of incautiously handling some of the tropical species. In these a 

 slight sensation of pricking is followed by a burning heat, such as 

 would be caused by rubbing the part with a hot iron ; and soon 

 the pain extends and continues for days, with symptoms like 

 those of lock-jaw, death even being said to have been caused by 

 it. This burning property is dissipated by heat ; and the young 

 shoots of the common Nettle, like those of the Hop, are, when 

 boiled, an excellent substitute for Asparagus. 



