Family: Urticaceae
Urtica
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. 983 (1753).
Derivation: Latin for the nettle.
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: None
Description:
Erect or ascending annual or perennial herbs; leaves opposite, petiolate, toothed, covered by rigid stinging hairs which contain an irritating fluid, stipulate.
Flowers unisexual, small, green, subsessile, in elongate axillary inflorescences; male perianth of 4 equal segments; female of 2 outer and 2 larger inner segments; stigma penicillate, almost sessile.
Fruit a small glossy achene enclosed in the persistent perianth.
Distribution:
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About 50 species mainly in temperate parts of the world. 1 species native to Australia. Nettles.
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Biology:
No text
Key to Species:
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1. Perennial; leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate |
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U. incisa 1. |
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1. Annual; leaves broadly ovate to elliptic |
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U. urens 2. |
Author:
Not yet available
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