Perennial stingless herbs (some tropical species shrubs or even trees), with opposite or alternate petioled 3-nerved leaves, distinct or connate stipules, and small monoecious or dioecious flowers, glomerate in axillary spikes or heads, the fertile clusters sometimes leafy at the summit. Staminate flowers mostly 4-parted or the calyx of 4 distinct sepals, usually with a rudimentary ovary. Pistillate calyx tubular or urn-shaped, 2-4-toothed or entire, enclosing the sessile or stalked ovary; stigma subulate, papillose or pubescent along one side. Achene enclosed by the withering-persistent pistillate calyx. [In honor of Georg Rudolph Boehmer, 1723-1803, Professor in Wittenberg.]

About 50 species, mostly natives of tropical regions, the following of eastern North America. Type species: Bochmeria rami flora Jacq.

1. Boehmeria Cylindrica (L.) Sw. False Nettle

Fig. 1562

Urtica cylindrica L. Sp. PI. 984. 1753.

Urtica capitata L. Sp. Pl. 985. 1753.

Boehmeria cylindrica Sw. Prodr. 34. 1788.

Boehmeria cylindrica scabra Porter, Bull. Torr. Club 16:

21. 1889. Boehmeria scabra Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 358. 1903.

A perennial rough pubescent or nearly smooth and glabrous erect branching herb, 1°-3° tall. Stem stiff; leaves ovate, ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, thin, petioled, opposite, or some alternate, coarsely dentate, 1-3' long, 1/2'-1 1/2' wide; petioles shorter than the blades; stipules lanceolate-subulate, distinct; flowers dioecious or androgynous; staminate spikes usually interrupted, the pistillate mostly continuous, 1/4'-1 1/2' long, often with small leaves at the top; achene ovate-oval, acute, rather less than 1" long.

In moist soil, Quebec and Ontario to Minnesota, Florida, Kansas and Texas. Bermuda and other West Indies. Consists of numerous races. July-Sept.