744 



THE NETTLE FAMILY. 



in small axillary clusters, surrounded by a few bracts, often united 

 into a small involucre. Male flowers like those of Nettle, but usually 

 very few. Females with a tubular or campanulate, 4-lobed perianth, 

 enclosing the ovary and adhering to the seed-like fruit. Stigma single, 

 tufted, sessile or with a distinct style. Besides these there are a few 

 hermaphrodite flowers, which become enlarged after flowering, but 

 seldom ripen their seed. 



A genus of several species, chiefly from the Mediterranean region 

 and central Asia, with one American one widely spread over a great 

 part of the world. 



1. "Wall Pellitory. Parietaria officinalis, Linn. (Fig. 898.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 879.) 



A small, branching perennial, erect 

 the first year, afterwards usually diffuse 

 or procumbent, 6 inches or rarely a foot 

 long, more or less downy with short 

 soft hairs. Leaves stalked, varying from 

 ovate to oblong, quite entire. Flowers 

 in sessile clusters, the involucre very 

 small, consisting of 2 or 3 divided bracts. 



On old walls, and in waste, stony 

 places, throughout Europe and Russian 

 Asia, except the extreme north. Com- 

 mon in England, Ireland, and southern 

 Scotland, but rare in the north. Fl. 

 the iv hole summer. 



Fig. 898. 



III. HOP. HUMULUS. 



A single species, differing from all others of the Nettle family by its 

 twining habit, by the inflorescence, and by the seed, which contains a 

 flat, spirally coiled embryo, without albumen. 



1. Common Hop. Humulus Lupulus, Linn. (Fig. 899.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 427.) 



Boot stock perennial, the stems annual, but twining to a considerable 

 height over bushes and small trees. Leaves opposite, stalked, broadly 



