AMARANTHACEAE 189 
Genera about 75, species about 550 in most parts of the world, repre- 
sented in the Philippines by introduced forms only. 
1, CHENOPODIUM Linnaeus 
Erect, sometimes aromatic, branched herbs, with angled stems and al- 
ternate, entire, lobed, or toothed leaves. Flowers small, regular, perfect 
in axillary and terminal, simple or panicled, spikes. Calyx inferior, the 
sepals 5 or fewer, persistent. Stamens as many as the sepals, hypogynous 
or somewhat perigynous; filaments distinct, anthers introrse. Ovary 1- 
celled, free, usually depressed; styles 2 or 3. Fruit a membranaceous 
utricle enclosed by the calyx. (Greek “goose” and “foot,” in allusion to 
the shape of the leaves of some species.) 
Species about 50, of wide distribution, 2 introduced in the Philippines. 
1. C. AMBROSIOIDES L. Aposotis (Sp.-Fil.). 
An erect or ascending branched herb often nearly 1 m high, with angled 
stems, glabrous or glandular-pubescent, with a rank aromatic odor when 
crushed. Leaves oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 3 to 10 cm long, repand- 
dentate or undulate. Flowers small, spicate. Sepals 5, sometimes only 3. 
Utricle less than 1 mm long. (FI. Filip. pl. 69.) 
Quite frequently cultivated by the natives and occasionally spontaneous, 
fl. Mareh-Apr., and probably in other months; widely distributed in the 
Philippines and in tropical and temperate countries generally, a native 
of tropical America. 
In addition to the above, the common beet, Beta vulgaris L., (Sp., 
remolacha), a native of Europe, also belonging to this family, is cultivated 
by Chinese gardeners for the Manila markets. 
44, AMARANTHACEAE (AMARANTHUS OR COLITES FAMILY) © 
Herbs, sometimes climbing, rarely shrubby (Deeringia). Leaves op- 
posite or alternate, exstipulate. Flowers in axillary clusters or in simple 
or panicled spikes, racemes, or heads, the bracts and 2 bracteoles scarious. 
Sepals 5, sometimes 1 to 3, rigid or scarious, persistent, imbricate in bud. 
Petals none. Stamens 1 to 5, opposite the sepals, free or connate below, 
often with intervening membranaceous staminodes, all united into a cup; 
anthers 1- or 2-celled. Ovary 1-celled; styles 1 to 3; ovules 1 or more, 
basal. Fruit a utricle, rarely a berry (Deeringia) or capsular, indehiscent 
or circumsciss. Seed orbicular or ovate, usually compressed. 
Genera 54, species about 450, in all temperate and tropical countries, 
10 genera and about 20 species in the Philippines. 
1. Climbing shrubs; ovules 2 or more; fruit fleshy, berry-like.. 1. Deeringia 
1. Herbs. 
2. Ovules 2 or more; fruit membranaceous..........0....0...2.-.----.--- 2. Celosia 
2. Ovules 1. 
3. Anthers 1-celled; flowers in sessile or peduncled heads. 
4. Heads peduncled, subtended by 2 leafy bracts; style long; stigma 
tO Re od lo lhe ~ tbh iit aaen 3. Gomphrena 
4. Heads sessile or subsessile, solitary or clustered; stigma subses- 
Wane,» CH DIEMeG tee reek tk n..:.....-.. ee ae .... 4. Alternanthera 
3. Anthers 2-celled; fiiforestence ° various. 
4. Staminodes none. 
