512 



CHENOPODIACEiE. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



Order CXCV. CHENOPODIACEiE.— Chenopods. 



Atriplices, Juss. Gen. 83. (1789) .— Chenopodese, Vetit. Tabl. 2. 253. (1799); R. Brown Prodr. 405. (1810); 

 C. A. Meyer in Led. Fl. Alt. 1. 370. (1829) ; Moquin Tandon in Ann. Sc. Nov. Ser. 1. 203. (1834) ; 

 Endl. Gen. ci.; Moq. Tand. Monogr. (1840).— Chenopodiacese, Ed.pr. clvi.; J»fmw.i).319.~Corisper- 

 ma, Moq. Tand.— Cj-nocrambeae," Th. N. ab E. Gen. PI. Europ. (1835). 



Diagnosis.— (?7i€W0250f7a7 Exogem, with separate flat sepals opposite tJie stamens, 2-celkd 

 anthcrSf a single one-seedecV^ovary, and herbaceous naJced flowers. 



Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs, sometimes jointed. Leaves alternate without 

 stipules, occasionally opposite. Flowers small, $ , sometimes J - ^ - ? , frequently <J ? . 



Fig. CCCL. 



Calyx deeply divided, sometimes a little tubular at the base, persistent, with an imbricated 

 aestivation. Stamens inserted into the base of the calyx, opposite its segments, and 

 equal to them in number, or fewer. Ovary single, superior, or occasionally adhering 

 to the tube of the calyx, with a single amphitropal o\Tile attached to the base of the 

 cavity ; style in 2 or 4 divisions, rarely simple ; stigmas undivided. Fruit membranous, 

 not vahnilar, sometimes baccate. Embryo annular or horseshoe-shaped, surrounding 

 the albumen (Cyclolobeee) ; or in a flat spiral, separating 2 masses of albumen ; or coni- 

 caUy spiral without albumen (Spirolobese), with the radicle in various directions as 

 regards the fruit, but always turned to the hilum. 



In this Order we have a crowd of species consisting partly of unisexual, and partly 

 bisexual plants, corresponding so much in general structvire otherwise, that Botanists 

 seem to have no disposition at present to divnide them. But as they are also provided 

 with exceedingly different seeds, there is small probability of the integrity of the Order 

 being long preserved. Till, however, they shall have been studied with reference to 

 their woody structure, a separation would be premature ; in that respect they differ 

 considerably. 



Schleiden first remarked that certain plants of this Order, namely. Beta Cycla, Atii- 

 plex hortensis, and Chenopodium Quinoa, have the wood very compact and pierced with 

 vertical cords of cellular tissue (see Nyctaginace^). But I do not find this structure 



Fig. CCCL. — 1. a portion of the spike fof ; Salicornia herbacea, with the flowers lodged in the 

 notches of the axis ; 2. a flower separate ; 3. a flower of Salsola Kali ; 4. its ripe fruit ; 5. the same 

 magnified, with a portion of the leafy dilated calyx torn away ; 6. its embryo ; 7. a flower of Chenopo- 

 dium album ; 8. a section of the same, showing the superior ovary ; 9. its seed cut through to show the 

 embryo. 



