Useful information about the plant family

Family: Urticaceae Juss. 1789

Description-internal

herbs or small shrubs, vines, rarely trees.

Distribution

widespread, from tropical to temperate regions.

Floral characters

green, radial, unisexual, rarely bisexual. if bisexual then rarely dioetic. Umbel-like inflorescences. Carpellate blossom: 4-5 tepals, distinct to connate, carpel 1 or 2 with one extremely reduced, adherent, ovary superior. Staminate blossoms: 4-5 tepals, distict to connate, 4-5 stamens.

Leaf characters

opposite or alternate, usually simple, entire to serrate, pinnate to palmate venation, blade sometimes with cordate or asymmetrical base.

Stipules

present

Fruit characters

Achene

Glands

absent

Hairs

present, trichome, glandula hairs

Latex

absent

Chemical characters

Sometimes histamins , acetylcholins, serotonin and organic acids.