100 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



salt marshes, with an erect stem destitute of leaves, and branch- 

 ing with lateral and terminal, narrow spikes. 



It is an interesting fact, that this plant should be found at the 

 salt springs along the shore of Lake Onondago, in the interior of 

 New York, 260 miles from the salt water of the ocean. 



S. ambigua. Mx. A small plant, found in the vicinity of 

 New Bedford. 



S. mucronata. Big. Dwarf Samphire. First described by 

 Dr. Bigelow. It is also erect and leafless, thicker, and more 

 fleshy, but much less than the first species, and is in similar 

 situations. 



Dr. Bigelow remarks, that the plants of this genus are used in 

 producing soda, and on the table as pickles. 



ORDER 154. PHYTOLACCEiE. The Poke Tribe. 



The only genus of this order, north of Pennsylvania, is Phy- 

 tolacca, ranked by Jussieu in the preceding order. Because 

 the berries give a fine red juice like lac, this name is given to the 

 genus, and thence to the order. Other species grow in North 

 America, but only one at the North. 



P. decandra. L. 10. 10. Poke, or Virginia Poke, or Poke 

 Weed. This is a large, fleshy plant, often 6 feet high, well known 

 about hedges and open woods in dryish soils, rising from a very 

 large root, and bearing large, scattered, and somewhat fleshy 

 leaves ; berries of a dark purple, and very juicy ; a favorite food 

 of robins and other birds, as they are moving southwards in autumn 

 to their winter quarters. The violent emetic powers of the root 

 are well known ; useful in medicine. Bigelow's " Medical Bot- 

 any." Blossoms in June to August ; flowers in large and long 

 racemes, so that the dark red berries are finely arranged for 

 beauty and show. 



