60 CHENOPODEJ2. 



The sap contains a certain quantity of alkaline salts, and a saline soil therefore is often pre- 

 ferred by the plants of this Order. Soda may be prepared from several European and Asiatic 

 species, and in the West Indies a similar use is made of Batis, which seems to be an impor- 

 tant argument for the affinity of this anomalous genus. The resolvent priuciplc of some 

 Chenopodea exists in Basella, and the volatile oil contained in the West Indian species of 

 Chenopodium has anthelmintic properties (worm-seed oil). 



1. CHENOPODIUM, L. . 



Calyx 5 (-3) -partite, ebracteolate, persistent: segments usually keeled. Pericarp utricular : 

 seed usually lateral, with a crustaceous testa ; embryo annular. — Weedy herbs ; flower-clusters 

 usually in terminal and axillary spikes. 



Sect. 1. Ambrina. — Embryo incompletely annular. 



1. C. ambrosioides, L. Annual, branched; leaves glandular, lanceolate-oblong or 

 spathulate, sinuate-toothed, upper ones entire ; spikes paniculate, leafy ; calyx appressed to 

 the fruit, not keeled; seed rounded, smooth, shining. — Desc. Ft. 1. t. 57. — A slight variety 

 is C. spathulatum, Sieb. (JIart. 92), with the leaves smaller, all spathulate. The seed is 

 sometimes vertical in both forms. — Hab. Jamaica !, Mac/., Bancr., March ; Antigua !, 

 Nichols. ; S. Vincent !, Guild. ; [California ! to Montevideo ! and Chili !, naturalized in all 

 the warmer parts of the globe] . 



2. C. anthelminticum, L. Perennial ; leaves glandular beneath, lanceolate-oblong 

 or elliptical-oblong, inferior sinuate ; spikes paniculate, leafless ; calyx appressed to the 

 fruit, not keeled; seeds rounded, smooth, shining. — Desc. Fl. 1. t. 58: the names in this 

 and the preceding plate are transposed.— Very similar to the preceding ; styles often 3.- — 

 Hab. Caribbean Islands!; [United States! to South America!]. 



Sect. 2. Chenopodiastrum. — Embryo completely annular. — Leaves eglandular, 



often mealy. 



3*. C. murale, L. Annual; leaves deltoid-ovate, sharply unequally toothed; spikes 

 axillary and terminal, spreading ; calyx scarcely keeled, not completely enclosing the fruit ; 

 seed sharply edged, opaque. — Hab. Naturalized in Antigua !, Wullschl.; [a European weed, 

 introduced in most parts qf the globe]. — C. album, L., is also a naturalized plant of the 

 West Indies. 



2. ACNIDA, L. 

 Flowers dioecious, ebracteolate. Calyx membranaceous, $ 5-partite, 9 3-partite : styles 

 3-5. Pericarp utricular : seed basilar, with a crustaceous testa; embryo annular. — Tall> 

 glabrous, annual herbs; flower-clusters in terminal and axillary spikes ; lateral flowers 

 abortive. 



4. A. cannabina, L. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, long-petioled ; pericarp acute- 

 angled, glabrous. — Gcertn. Fruct. 1. 116./. 3 : analyt. — A. cuspidata, Berter. — Stem 6-10' 

 high ; middle leaves usually 6"-8" long, penninerved ; panicles lax, drooping at the top, 

 formed of interrupted spikes. — Hab. Jamaica (Berter) ; Trinidad !, Cr., in mangrove 

 swamps ; [United States] . 



3. ANREDERA, Juss. 

 Calyx 5-partite, enclosed within two winged persistent bracts. Style 3-partite. Pericarp 

 utricular, leathery, compressed : seed basilar, with a membranaceous testa; embryo annular. 

 — A trailing, annual herb; leaves ovate-oblong, acuminate, petioled ; racemes spiciform, 

 axillary and terminal, exceeding the leaves. 



5. A. scandens, Moq.—Sl. t. 90./. 1. — Polygonum, L. A. spicata, Pers. Basella 

 vesicaria, Lam. — Hab. Jamaica (SI.) ; [Cuba and Mexico to Peru]. 



4. SALICORNIA, L. 

 Flowers amentaceous, sunk in excavations of the axis. Calyx utricular. Stamens 1-2. 

 — Stem jointed, succulent, leafless ; flowers usually ternate. 



6. S. ambigua, Mich. Suffrutescent, procumbent ; branches ascending, blunt ; joints 



