Herbs, annual, with stinging and nonstinging hairs. Stems usually branched, erect, spreading, or reclining. Leaves opposite; stipules present. Leaf blades ovate to broadly ovate, distal blades sometimes broadly elliptic, margins serrate; cystoliths elongate. Inflorescences axillary, globose, nearly globose, or elongate-racemose or paniculate. Flowers unisexual, staminate and pistillate in loose to dense clusters in same inflorescence; bracts absent. Staminate flowers: tepals 4, distinct, equal; stamens 4; pistillode present. Pistillate flowers: tepals 4, connate, forming persistent saclike structure covered with delicate, hooked hairs and completely enclosing mature, flattened achene; staminodes absent; style absent, stigma tufted, persistent. Achenes subsessile, laterally compressed, ovoid, tightly enclosed in persistent tepals. x = 12.

Distribution

1 in Calif. and Mexico, 1 in Pacific Islands (Hawaii).

Discussion

Species 2 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Woodland, D. W., I. J. Bassett, and C. W. Crompton. 1976. The annual species of stinging nettle (Hesperocnide and Urtica) in North America. Canad. J. Bot. 54: 374-383.

Lower Taxa

Hesperocnide tenella