Alternative names: Not Applicable

Description:
Herbs or less often woody plants, often with stinging hairs; leaves opposite or alternate, simple, often toothed; stipules paired or 0.

Flowers usually cymose, unisexual, bisexual or plants with both unisexual and bisexual flowers; perianth-segments 4, imbricate or valvate; stamens 4, opposite the segments, the filaments springing backwards elastically; ovary superior, 1-celled, with 1 basal orthotropous ovule and 1 style.

Fruit an achene or drupe; seeds albuminous, embryo straight, radicle superior.

Distribution:  About 45 genera and 550 species in most parts of the world. About 10 genera native to Australia.

Biology: No text

Key to Genera:

1. Leaves alternate, entire
2. Flowers in cymes	PARIETARIA 1.
2. Flowers solitary in leaf axils	SOLEIROLIA 2.
1. Leaves opposite, toothed	URTICA 3.

Author: Prepared by J.P. Jessop