372 DICOTYLEDONES. 



iiial) ; inhabiting salt-marshes and salt-steppes, and growing as weeds (most 

 frequently on garden or field soil containing manure) in this country, especially 

 species of Chenopodium and Atriplex. The majority are found outside the 

 Tropics, and play a very important part, for example, in the Asiatic salt- 

 steppes. They grow gregariously in large masses. 



USES. Comparatively few. The only important one is Beta vulgaris (from 

 the Mediterranean basin), with its different varieties, viz. Beet-root, Cattle-beet 

 or Eed-beet, Sugar-beet, and others. These are biennial, making in the first 

 year a root which acts as a reservoir of reserve material, with a rosette of leaves, 

 and in the second year using this material in the production of a long stem, 

 leaves and flowers. The primary root has been developed by cultivation into a 

 very thick and fleshy tap-root ; its mode of increase in thickness deviates from 

 that of other roots, concentric rings of vascular bundles being formed from a 

 carnbial ring developed outside the previous ring. In this way several rings 

 of vascular bundles separated by medullary rays, alternating with rings of 

 parenchyma, may be found in the root of a Beet. Besides Beta vulgaris, var. 

 horten*is (Beet-root), the following are also cultivated : var. ciclu (Leaf-beet, 

 "Mangold," or " Eoman Spinach "), Spinacia oleracea and Atiiplex liortemis 

 as Spinach ; a form of the latter and of Spinach are grown as ornamental 

 plants. The tubers of Ullucits tuberosus are used as potatoes ; Chenopodium 

 quinoa, in Chili and Peru, is an important farinaceous plant. Soda is made 

 from some (Salsola kali, Chenopodina maritima and others). Aromatic proper- 

 ties are rare : Chenopodium ambrosioides and botrys. 



Order 4. Batidaceae. Batis maritima, a bushy West Indian maritime 

 plaot. 



Order 5. Phytolaccaceae. The (sometimes unisexual), regular, some- 

 times slightly perigynous flowers are inconspicuous and have a single sepaloid 

 or coloured 4-5-leaved perianth (generally united at the base) ; stamens either 

 in 1 whorl in the spaces between the perianth-leaves or in 1 whorl opposite the 

 perianth-leaves, or in 2, one of which alternates with these ; but the number 

 may be increased by the splitting of one or of both the whorls to as many as 

 10-15-20-25. Carpels sometimes only one, sometimes many (4-10) placed in a 

 whorl, either free or united into a gynceceum with a corresponding number of 

 loculi in the ovary ; but in all cases each carpel bears only its own style and 

 1 ovule. The fruit is a berry (or nut, capsule, or schizocarp). Mostly herbs 

 or herbaceous shrubs, with scattered, simple leaves without stipules (PetiveriecB 

 have stipules). Inflorescences, most frequently racemes or spikes, which in 

 some instances are apparently placed opposite to a leaf, being displaced by a 

 more vigorous growth of the axillary bud. Embryo always bent. Petiveria 

 has a straight embryo with rolled cotyledons. Pliytolaeca, Pircunia, Microtea, 

 Seguieiia, Rivina (Pr4, A4. Gl; berry), and others. 



The following plant is, with some doubt, placed near this order : Thely- 

 (jonum cynocrambe ; monoecious. $ -flowers: perianth, 2-leaved; stamens indefi- 

 nite. <j? -flowers : perianth-leaves united, 3-toothed ; Gl, style gynobasic. 

 Fruit a drupe. An annual plant ; Mediterranean. Branching anomalous. 



About 90 species ; in tropical and temperate countries, principally America 

 and Africa. The red juice in the fruits, especially of Phytol. decandra, is used 

 for colour'ng wine. 



