Rumex I'OLYGONACEAE-CHENOPODIACKAK Koch ia 



locally in An., Ki., Ku. Roadside and field weed. 

 7. Rumex acetosella Linn. Sheep Sorrel /.Md^ (Hsiao Suan Mu; Small Sorrel) 

 (G.M. 571). Herb, to 3dm.; fls. VII. Eurasia, North Africa; locally in Ku. 

 Moist ground. 



5. Muehlenbeckia Meisn. %%%% (Chu Chieh Liao Shu) 



Shrubs, sometimes with flattened brs.: lvs. alternate, sometimes wanting: fls. 



unisexual; perianth 5-parted, the outer segments becoming fleshy and surrounding 



the triangular achene in fr. ; stamens usually 8. About 15 species, in the south 



temperate zone; one cultivated in China. (After H. G. Muehlenbeck, a German 



physician, 1798-1845.) 



1. Muehlenbeckia platyclados (Muell.) Meisn. Centipede Plant yjffiig (Chu Chieh 



Liao; Bamboo- joint Polygonum) {Homalocladium platycladum (Muell.) Bailey) 



(B. M. 351). Shrub, to 0.5 m.; fls. pinkish, III; fr. purplish, III. Introduced 



from Solomon Islands; locally in Ku. Cultivated, ornamental. 



50. CHENOPODIACEAE Goosefoot Family W& (Li K'o) 



Herbs, often succulent: Ivs. alternate: fls. small, the perianth herbaceous or 

 fleshy: fr. a 1-seeded utricle or achene. 75 genera with 600 species; 13 genera and 

 35 species in China. 



Key to the Genera 

 A. Fls. bisexual. 



B. Lvs. with broad blades, usually angled, toothed or lobed. 



Fls. Without bracts; calyx not becoming hardened or woody 



in f r 1 . Chenopodium 



Fls. with bracts; calyx becoming hardened and woody in fr. 2. Beta 

 BB. Lvs. linear or awl-shaped. 



Lvs. not fleshy : fls. in small clusters 3. Kochia 



Lvs. fleshy : fls. sessile 4 . Suaeda 



AA. Fls. unisexual; bracts enclosing the fr 5. Spinacia 



1. Chenopodium Linn. Goosefoot fjSg (Li Shu) 



Mealy or glandular tveeds: lvs. flat: fls. bisexual, in small sessile clusters, ivithout 



bracts; perianth usually 5-parted, enclosing the fr.; stamens 5: seeds lenticular. 



About 60 species, in temperate regions; 10 in China. (Greek: chen, a goose; and 



podos, foot.) 



1. Chenopodium album Linn. Lamb's Quarters ]K)KM (Huei Huei Ts'ai) (G.M. 594). 



Brg. herb, to lm.; fls. gray-green, IV-IX; sepals keeled in fr. Eurasia; locally 



in An., Hon., Ki., Ku. Garden weed. Fig. 77. 



2. Beta Linn. Beet MMM (T'ien Ts'ai Shu) 



Glabrous herbs with flat entire or sinuate lvs.: fls. bisexual, with bracts; perianth 



5-parted, hardened and woody in fr.: fr. usually an aggregate, from 2 or more fls., 



the "seeds" of commerce. About 6 species, in Eurasia and North Africa; one 



cultivated in China. (The Latin name.) 



1. Beta vulgaris Linn. Beet "^ (T'ien Ts'ai) (B.M. 353). Erect herb, 1-1.5 m. 



tall; fls. greenish; fr. brown; roots edible. Europe, a cultigen; locally in An., 



Ki., Ku. Garden root vegetable. Fig. 78. 



3. Kochia Roth t&MM (Ti Fu Shu) 

 Herbs or shrubs with narroiv or terete lvs. : fls. sessile, in small clusters or 



100 



