Latin, paries—wall, in reference to the growing locality of some species.
Annual or perennial herbs without stinging hairs. Leaves alternate, entire; stipules absent. Flowers unisexual or bisexual, in axillary clusters. Perianth white to green, 4 parted. Fruit achenes enclosed in perianth and/or bracts.
Plants of no ornamental value and cultivated only as herbs.
20 species from tropical and temperate regions (Australia has 2 native and 1 naturalised species).
Source: (1997). Urticaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
