226 CHENOPODEyE. [Salicomia. 



received specimens. Fl. Sept. ©. — Nearly allied to P. Hydropiper , 

 but much smaller, procumbent below, with upright spikes, narrow 

 leaves, and undivided stigmas. 



Ord. 61. CHENOPODEiE. Vent Goose-foot Family. 



Perianth monophyllous, deeply divided, sometimes tubular at 

 the base, persistent, with an imbricated aestivation. Stamens 

 inserted at the bottom of the perianth, and opposite to its seg- 

 ments, equal in number to them, or fewer. Ovary single, free, 

 rarely adherent with the tube of the perianth, with a single 

 ovule fixed to the bottom of the cavity : style divided, 2 — 4- 

 fid, rarely simple : stigmas undivided. Pericarp membranous, 

 valveless, sometimes a berry. Embryo curved round a farina- 

 ceous albumen ; or spiral or bicrural, without albumen : radicle 

 next the hilum : plumule inconspicuous. — Generally distributed 

 herbs or low shrubs, especially in temjjerate regions. Leaves al- 

 ternate, without stipules, sometimes opposite. Flotvers smalt, 

 sometimes polygamous. 



Of this Order, many individuals are potlierbs ; some are 

 tonic and anti-spasmodic ; others, the saline species, yield a 

 great quantity of carbonate of soda. Chenopodhtm olidum ex- 

 hales pure ammonia, 



1. Salsola. Linn. Saltwort. 



Perianth single, inferior, 5-cleft, persistent, enveloping the fruit 

 with its base, and crowning it with its broad scariose limb. 

 Seed solitary, its cotyledon spiral. — Named from sal, salt. 

 From many of this tribe abundance of alkaline salt is ob- 

 tained, as is implied by the name of our only British species. 



Pentandria. Digynia. 



I. S. Kali, Linn. Prickly Saltwort. Steins herbaceous, 

 prostrate ; leaves subulate, spinous, scabrous ; segments of the 

 perianth margined, scarious. Br. Fl. 1. p. 139. E. Fl. v. ii. 

 p. 18. E. Bot. t. G34. 



Sea-shores, frequent. Fl. July. ©. — Stem angled, very much 

 branched. Flowers solitary, pale greenish, sessile, with three leaf-like 

 bracteas at the base of each. 



2. Salicornia. Linn. Glasswort. 



Perianth single, turbinate, fleshy, obscurely lobed. Stamens 

 one or two. Style short. Stigmas bi-trifid. Fruit an 

 urticle, included in the enlarged perianth. — Name, from sal, 

 salt, and cornu, a horn, from the horn-like branches and 

 saline nature of the plants. Monandria. Monogynia. 



