Chenopodales] CHENOPODALES. 505 



AimNCE XXXVIII. (7iri;iV0P0i)^i:^/S'.— The CnENOPODAL Alliance. 



Diagnosis. — Eypogynous Exogens, with monochlamydeous flowers, free central placentce, 

 an external embryo, either curved round or applied to the surface of a little mealy 

 or homy albumen, solitary caipels, or, if more than one, distinct. 



With these plants, the greater part of which consists of species Avith inconspicuous 

 flowers, and often with scarcely more floral organs than are absolutely necessary to 

 secm'e the perpetuation of the race, we have a transition which cannot be mistaken, to 

 the more elaborately constructed Alliances hereafter to be noticed. Nettles and 

 Chenopods are in such strict relationship that we can scarcely say wherein the 

 difference consists in cei-tain cases, unless we refer to the internal structure of the seed, 

 and then indeed we find Chenopods ^vith amphitropal owdes, mealy albumen, and 

 radicle du'ected towards the base of the fruit, while Nettles have orthotropal or anatro- 

 pal o\niles, fleshy albumen, and a radicle directed towards the apex of the fruit. Both 

 have stamens opposite the sepals of an inconspicuous petalless calyx, and both have 

 their fruit composed of a single, perfectly simple, cai'pellary leaf ; we even find that 

 in some cases among the Urtical AUiance the circular, or spiral, embryo of Chenopods 

 makes its appearance. (See p. 265). 



Even as regards the distinction of the stamens and pistil there is a great similarity 

 between the two races under consideration. For if all the Urtical Alliance consists 

 of plants whose flowers are strictly unisexual ( ^ ? ), so also does the Chenopodal 

 Alliance contain a great many species wliich are similarly constituted, notwithstanding 

 that the tendency of the structure is towax'ds a combination of the sexes {0). It is, in 

 fact, among the Chenopodal AlUance that we find most exceptions to the distinctions 

 between diclinous and bisexual organisation ; as might be expected, where Orders run 

 so much together otherwise. 



From the Silenal AlUance this is known by the absolute simplicity of the ovary, 

 and by no other positive mark : there may be several ovaries present m the same 

 flower, but they are then distinct from each other. It is, however, to be remarked 

 that Chenopodals have, in no case whatever, a corolla, while in a large part of the 

 Silenals, petals are obviously present. Nyctagos, a portion of this Alliance, seem 

 as if they were attempting to emulate the Silenals ; for, although they have only a 

 calyx, yet that calyx does, in many instances, assume altogether the ordinary colour 

 and texture of a corolla. 



Natural Orders of Chenopodals. 



Sepals united into a long (often coloured) plaited tube, which'\ 



separates from its base, the latter becoming hard, and forming V 192. Nyctaginace.e. 



a spurious pericarp J 



Sepals separate, flat. Stamens alternate with the sepals or QOA^^^o Phytolaccace e 



Carpels several (or 1) . . . ., j 



Sepals separate or nearly so, flat. Stamens opposite the sepals. 1 



Anthers often \-celUd. Ovary 1, often several-seeded. (Flowers l> 194. Amarantace.e. 



scanous, surroimded by imbricated bracts) J 



Sepals separate, or nearly so, flat. Stamens opposite tJie scpaU. 1 



Anthers 2-cclled. Ovary 1, always one-seeded. (Flotvcrs [-19 5. CiiEyovoDiACEM. 



lierbaccous, naked) O 



