48 



WEEDS. NETTLE, DANDELION. 



in tufts on good pasture grounds. The plant belongs to the 

 class and order "Monoecia tetrandria" of Linneus, and the 

 natural order " Urticse" of Jussieu. 



Generic character. — Male calyx : perianth of four 

 roundish, concave, obtuse leaves. Corolla : petals none ; 

 nectary ; the rudiments of a germen central, small, pitcher- 

 shaped, undivided, tapering at the base. Stamina : filaments 

 four, awl-shaped, spreading, the length of the calyx, and op- 

 posite to its leaves ; anthers of two globular cells. Female 

 generally on the same plant. Calyx : perianth of two, 

 ovate, concave, erect, permanent valves. Corolla none. Pis- 

 til : germen superior, ovate ; style none ; stigma downy. Peri- 

 carp none, except the closed calyx. Seed solitary, ovate, 

 compressed, blunt-edged, pohshed. 



Essential character. — Male calyx of four leaves. Corolla 

 none. R^udiment of a germen cup-shaped. 



Female calyx of two leaves. Corolla none. Seed one, 

 superior, polished. 



The " Common stinging nettle," or the " Urtica dioica," 

 has the leaves opposite, heart-shaped, sharply serrated. Sti- 

 pulas ovate, distinct, spreading. Clusters much branched, 

 in pairs ; longer than the foot stalks, mostly dioicous. The 

 root is perennial, and extensively creeping. The stems are 

 two to three feet in height. Every part is armed with stings. 



Where nettles grow in pastures, the roots must be very care- 

 fully raised by spade or fork and burned. The weed is not 

 difficult of eradication, and the jDresence of it shows the most 

 careless neglect. 



12. The Dandelion," or the ^" Leontodon" of botany, is 

 a disagreeable plant, though common on good lands in most 

 districts. The plant belongs to the class and order " Synge- 

 nesia polygamia ^qualis" of Linneus, and the natural order 

 " Cichoraceae" of Jussieu. 



Generic character. — Common calyx imbricated, oblong ; 

 its interior scales linear, parallel, equal ; outer scales fewer 

 in number, often reflected at the base. Corolla compound, 

 imbricated, uniform; the florets hermaphrodite, numerous, 

 equal, each of one petal, ligalate, linear, abrupt, with five 



