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U R T I C A u rens.
Small Nettle.
n
MONOECIA Tetrandria.
Gen. Char. Male, Cal. 4-leaved. Cor. none. Rudiment
of a germen cup-shaped. Female, CaL
2-leaved. Cor. none. Seed 1, superior, polished.
Spec. Char. Leaves opposite, elliptical, about five-
ribbed. Clusters nearly simple.
Syn. Urtica urens. L in n .S p . PI. 1396. Sm. FI.
Brit. 1015. Huds. 417. With. 202. Hull. 210.
Relh. 374. Sibth. 62. jibbot. 208. Curt. Lond.
fasc. 6. t. 70.
U. minor. Raii Syn. 140.
T h i s troublesome and prolific weed is sufficiently well known
to cultivators of every description. It is an annual of quick
growth, thriving most on a light soil, and often forming two
crops in the course of the year.
Its humbler size, annual fibrous root, brighter green colour,
and elliptical leaves, clearly distinguish it from the equally
common Urtica dioica. The Roman nettle, figured in our 3d
vol. t. 148, is known from both by its globular heads of seeds.
Mr. Curtis has most accurately investigated the stinging
property for which these 3 species are remarkable. They are
covered, as every body knows, with small projecting prickles,
which when slightly touched inflict a highly venomous wound.
Each prickle is tubular, standing on a bag of poison, and perforated
at the point, so that when gently pressed vertically,
the pressure at once forces the poison to ascend the tube, and
enables the point to lodge it in the skin of the hand that touches
it. It maybe useful to know that the juice of Dock (Rumex),
Plantago lanceolata, v. 8. t. 507, or even of the Nettle itself,
are speedy remedies for the sting.