166 



podium itself, it is so difficult to define the dift'erences that distinguish the two 

 orders, that, beyond habit, nothing certain can be pointed out. Mr. Brown 

 remarks (Prodr. 413.), that he has not been able to ascertain any absolute 

 diagnosis to distinguish them by ; for the hypogynous insertion attributed 

 to their stamens is not only not constant in the order, but is also found in 

 some Chenopodese. Dr. Von Martins, in a learned dissertation upon the 

 order, describes Chenopodese as being apetalous, and Aniarantacese as poly- 

 petalous, considering the bracteolae of these latter as a calyx, and that 

 which I call a calyx a corolla. But it seems to me that this view of their 

 structure is not borne out by analogy, and that it is impossible to believe 

 the floral envelopes of the two orders to be of a different nature. I am 

 certainly unable to indicate any better mode of distinguishing them than 

 has been pointed out by those that have gone before me ; and at the same 

 time I cannot hesitate to keep asunder orders which it is evident that 

 nature has divided. Bartling combines these plants in a single class, along 

 with Caryophyllese, Phytolaccese, Scleranthese, and lUecebreae ; and there 

 is no doubt of the near affinity borne to each other by all these, as is pointed 

 out by their habit and by the structure of their seeds. 



Geography. These plants grow in crowds or singly, either in dry, 

 stony, barren stations, or among thickets upon the borders of woods, or a 

 few even in salt marshes. They are much more frequent within the tropics 

 than beyond them, and are unknown in the coldest regions of the world. 

 53 are found in tropical Asia, 105 in tropical America, but 5 in extra- 

 tropical Asia, and but 21 in extra-tropical America; 5 are natives of Europe, 

 28 of New Holland, and 9 of Africa and its islands. See Von Martins 

 Monogr. 



Properties. Many of the species are used as potherbs, on account 

 of the wholesome mucilaginous qualities of the leaves. Amaranthus obtusi- 

 folius is said to be diuretic. Several are objects of interest with gardeners 

 for the beauty of their colouring and the durability of their blossoms. 

 Gomphrena officinalis and macrocephala have a prodigious reputation 

 in Brazil, where they are called Para todo, Perpetua, and Raiz do Padre 

 Salerma : as the first of these names imports, they are esteemed useful in 

 all kinds of diseases, especially in cases of intermittent fevers, colics, and 

 diarrhoea, and against the bite of serpents. Plantcs Usuelles, nos. 31. 

 and 32. 



ExAMPi,Es. Amaranthus, Gomphrena, Celosia. 



CLII. SCLERANTHE^. 



ScLERANTHE.E, Link Enum, 417- (1821); Dec. Prodr. 3. 377. (1828) a § o/ Illecebrea, 

 Lindley^s S!/7iopsis,2lT. {Iii2l)) — QiteuiacE/E, a § o/ Illecehreie, Dec. I.e. (1828). 



— PMlNUARTIE^, ibid. 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with a single seed attached to a 

 cord arising from the base of the cell, an inferior tubular indurated calyx, 

 perigynous stamens, and an embryo curved round mealy albumen, with the 

 radicle next the hiluni. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character Flowers hermaphiwlite. Cafi/.r 4- or 5-toothed, with 



an urcfolate tube. Stamens from 1 to U», inserted into tlie orifice of tlie tube. Ovarium 

 Mmple, superior, 1 -seeded. S/j/Zm 2 or 1, emaij^inate at the apex. Fruit a membranous 

 utricle enclosed within the hardened calyx. Seed pendulous from tlie apex of a funiculus, 



