Oct., 1921] BECHTEL — FLORAL ANATOMY OF URTICALES 
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remaining strand (figs. 9, 14-16, 0) passes up posteriorly into the pendulous 
ovule. The pedicel of Humulus, also, possesses in its upper portion defi- 
nitely organized tissues suggesting bundles (figs. 10, 11, x). One of these 
suggestive regions does possess a faintly lignified vessel (fig. 10, x) which 
must eliminate all doubt of its being a bundle. 
The perianth of Humulus is very similar to that of Cannabis sativa 
Transverse sections through the upper part of the perianth reveal many 
bundles (PI. XX, fig. 16, p), varying in number from 10 to 14. These 
bundles cannot be traced to an origin in the pedicellar stele, but they can 
be followed passing into the cortex. Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 show the 
• traces to the perianth numbered in the order in which they become distin- 
guishable, e.g., figs. 12, 13, i\ i^, Because of the delicate cell walls, it 
cannot be definitely said whether there are three, five, or more original traces 
leading into the perianth. However, it is evident that several traces to the 
perianth originate at one point in the stele, or that the traces separate after 
they passed out as one trace (figs. 13-15). Since the perianth strands are 
difficult to trace owing to their delicacy, we conclude, as for Cannabis, that 
the basal portions are abortive. 
In Humulus, as in Cannabis, the abortive bundles in the pedicel may 
continue into the perianth and show lignification only in their upper por- 
tions. A fact supporting this conclusion is that these abortive bundles 
appear after the strand to the bract is oriented and before the appearance 
of the remaining strands that pass into the pistil. In all other species 
studied in the Urticales, the perianth bundles pass off first or lowest on the 
floral axis, and this is the position of the abortive bundles of Humulus and 
Cannabis. 
Urticaceae 
This family of the Urticaceae contains perennial or annual herbs with 
very small, greenish flowers, monoecious, dioecious, or polygamous; perianth 
parts 5 to 2, distinct, cleft, or tubular; stamens of the same number and 
oppOvSite to the perianth parts; ovary with one cell, one ''orthotropous" 
ovule; styles usually capitate and sessile. 
Urtica gracilis Ait. is figured in Plate XXI. The vascular supply in the 
minute pedicel of the pistillate flower appears as one strand (fig. 2) which 
gives off two decussate pairs of bundles which pass to the four perianth 
parts (figs. 3-12, w, n). The remaining vascular tissue continues as four 
strands into the pistil. The posterior strand passes up into the sessile 
stigma. This strand is the dorsal carpellary bundle of the posterior carpel. 
The anterior strand passes up three fourths of the height of the ovary and 
cannot be followed further. The two lateral strands approach each other 
as they ascend and enter the funiculus of the basal ovule as one strand 
(figs. I, 5-1 1, 0 + 0), as was found in Ulmus, Morus, and Madura. In 
interpreting the vascular supply of this pistil similarly to that of Ulmus and 
others previously described, the conclusion is that two carpels are present 
