224 



URTICACEiE. 



BffiHMERIA. 



1. Bceiimeria cylindrica, Willcl False Nettle. 



Herbaceous ; leaves opposite, ovatc-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate-toothed, 

 3-nerved, smoolhish ; sterile spikes interrupted, the fertile mostly continuous, cylindrical. — 

 Willcl sp. 4. p. 340; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 112; Ell. sk. 2. p. 668 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 342 ; 

 Beck, hot. p. 316; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 522 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Atn. 2. p. 142. Urtica cylin- 

 drica, Linn. sp. 2. p. 984 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 179. 



Perennial. Stem about 2 feet high, simple, obtusely 4-angled, smoothish or slightly pu- 

 bescent, often of a reddish tinge. Leaves 2-4 inches long, rarely alternate, usually of a 

 thin texture, sprinkled with a few short hairs : petiole varying from less than half an inch to 

 2 inches or more in length (being short in dry open situations). Spikes slender, often leafy 

 at the summit, often diceoious. Flowers sessile or nearly so, each with a small ovate bract 

 at the base ; the fertile apparently naked, but the calyx closely invests the ovary to the 

 summit. Fructiferous calyx somewhat hispid, and rather fleshy. Achenium ovoid, com- 

 pressed, crustaceous. 



Moist grounds, usually in shady places : frequent. Fl. July - August. Fr. September. 

 B. cylindrica, Muhl., seems to be scarcely distinct from this species. 



5. PARIETARIA. Tourn. ; Endl gen. 1885. pellitory. 



[From the Latin, paries, a wall ; in allusion to the place of growth.] 



Flowers monoecious or polygamous. Sterile. Calyx 4-sepalled. Stamens 4. Rudimentary 

 ovary stipitate ; the ovule abortive. Fertile. Calyx ventricose-tubular or campanulate, 

 4-toothed or 4-cleft ; the segments nearly equal, or two opposite ones smaller. Ovary 

 ovate : style very short, or none : stigma capitate-pencilled. Achenium more or less 

 covered by the dry or slightly fleshy calyx. — Herbs or undershrubs, destitute of stinging 

 hairs. Flowers small, greenish, in axillary involucrate fascicles or cymules, sometimes 

 perfect. 



1. Parietaria Pennsylvania, Muhl. Pennsylvania/a Pellitory. 



Leaves alternate, oblong-lanceolate, veiny, opake, dotted ; involucral leaves longer than the 

 flowers ; calyx campanulate, 4-parted. — Muhl. in Willd. sp. 4. p. 955 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 114 ; 

 Ell. sk. 2. p. bib; Torr. compend. p. 352; Beck, hot. p. 315; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 113. 

 P. Americana, Muhl. cat. p. 95. 



Annual. Stem about a span high, weak, simple or sparingly branched near the base, 

 pubescent. Leaves 1-2 inches long, tapering to each end, very thin, slightly hairy, and 

 roughened with minute points, ciliate on the margin. Flowers mostly perfect, in small axillary 

 clusters, with linear-lanceolate leafy hispid bracts at the base. Calyx campanulate, cleft to 

 the middle into four acute 3-nerved segments, minutely hispid. Stigma sessile, hairy. 

 Achenium oval, a little compressed, smooth and shining, light brown. 



Shady rocky banks, particularly in the western and northern parts of the State. Fl. May - 

 July. Fr. September. A small homely weed-like plant. 



