402 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY [Vol. 8 
nabis, the origin of which cannot be determined in the garnophyllous 
perianth cup, may be considered veins of several digitately veined perianth 
parts. They attain a weak development due to reduction. The floral 
envelopes have become reduced and delicate with the development of a 
large protecting bract. The differences in the ovule supply in these genera 
will be elaborated upon in the general discussion (p. 404). 
Thus, the flowers of the Moraceae as compared with those of the Ulma- 
ceae have been more greatly reduced in floral axis, as described earlier in 
this paper, in perianth lobes, and in their vascular supply, as seen in 
Madura, Humulus, and Cannabis, and in the gynoecium as illustrated in 
Madura. 
Urticaceae. The study of three species of this family indicates the 
presence of that reduction which is found in its earlier stages in Moraceae, 
namely, the suppression of one of two carpels. In Urtica and in Laportea 
the anterior carpel is represented only by abortive bundles; in Boehmeria 
there is no trace of a bundle in this carpel. Also the irregularity of the 
perianth parts is slight in Urtica; it is greater in Laportea to the degree 
that the posterior perianth part has nearly disappeared, and has no vascular 
supply. In Boehmeria, an anatomical study of the gamophyllous perianth 
reveals two perianth parts only. There is no evidence of lobes indicating 
lateral perianth parts, nor bundle supply to such parts. The "orthotro- 
pous" ovule supply, as has been presented on page 398, gives evidence 
by its peculiar course of a change of position of the ovule from a pendulous 
or lateral to a basal position. The irregularity of the shape and size of 
the perianth parts, the number of parts, ranging from four to two, the 
/'basal " ovule supplied by a bundle taking an ascending and then a descend- 
ing course, indicate a reduction in this family beyond that found in the 
Moraceae. 
Along with the floral reduction in the Urticaceae goes the herbaceous 
perennial or annual plant habit which character phyletically (7, 18) is in 
keeping with that of the flower. 
General Discussion 
The Urticales present an anomalous combination of characters. These 
on one hand indicate primitiveness and on the other specialization. Many 
and indefinite organs, non-cyclic condition, preponderance of woody forms, 
and palmate venation, still evident in the perianth parts if not in foliage 
leaves, point to primitiveness. Aggregation of flowers, fusion of parts, 
zygomorphy, and reduction point to specialization. Therefore, they must 
be considered at least not highly advanced forms, though they possess a 
number of very advanced features. Almost any group of angiosperms 
possesses one or more of the characters indicating high rank. The presence 
of several such characters in the Urticales is not an indication of particular 
