296 CHENOPODIACEiE. 



18 inches to 2 or 3 feet high, generally much branched, often purple. Flowers 

 small, in oblong erect terminal and sublerrainal spikes, A very troublesome 

 weed. Introduced. Spiny Amaranth. 



5, A. retrofiexus Linn.: branches pubescent; leaves ovate, undulate; 

 racemes erect, much compounded ; flowers pentandrous. 



Among rubbish, &c. Penn. to Virg. Aug. (1). Pursh. 



Hairy Amaranth. 



6. A. pumilus Raf. : stem diffuse, smooth; leaves ovate, obtuse, smooth 

 and fleshy, often retuse ; flowers pentandrous, in axillary clusters. 



Sandy beaches. N. Y. to Car, Aug. (I)- — Stem a foot high, somewhat de- 

 cumbent, spreading. Flowers greenish and purple, in somewhat crowded 

 clusters. Dwarf Amaranth. 



Order CI. CHENOPODIACEJE.— Chenopods. 



Perianth deeply divided, sometimes tubular at the base, per- 

 sistent. Stamens inserted into the base of the perianth, oppo- 

 site its segments and equal to them in number or fewer. Ovary 

 single, mostly superior. Style 2 — 4-divided, rarely simple ; 

 stigmas simple. Fruit an utricle, sometimes a berry. Seed 

 erect, with the embryo usually curved around mealy albumen. 

 — Herbaceous plants or under shrubs. Leaves alternate, with- 

 out stipules, occasionally opposite. Flowers small, sometimes 

 polygamous. 



1. CHENOPODIUM. Lin7i. —Goosefoot. 



(From the Greek x^^j X^^°^) ^ goose, and Taj, noSos, a foot ; in allusion to the 

 shape of the leaves in some species.) 



Flowers perfect. Perianth 5-parted, closing upon but not 

 wholly enveloping the fruit. Stamens 5. Styles 2, united at 

 base. Utricle thin, membranaceous. Seed lenticular. 



* Leaves ovate or rhomboid, often tootJied or Ubed. 



1. C. Bonus Henricus Linn.: leaves triangular-sagittate, very entire; 

 spikes compound, peduncled, crowded, terminal and axillary, erect, leafless, 

 Blitum Bonus Usurious Mey. 



Oneida county, N. Y. Torr. June. %. — Stem, a foot high, striate, ascend- 

 ing. Leaves large, dark-green. Flowers green, in small roundish clusters, 

 forming a terminal spike. Introduced from Europe. Good King Henry. 



2. C. rhomhifolium Muhl. : leaves triangular-rhombic, acute, repandly 

 toothed ; upper ones lanceolate, toothed, cuneate at base ; "racemes axillary, 

 erect, leafless ; bracts minute, incurved. 



Penn. to Car. .Tune, July. (J). — Plant yellowish-green. Stem 1 — 2 feel 

 high, branched. Flowers small, in capitate axillary clusters. Introduced ? 



Rhombic-leaved Goosefo: t. 



3. C. rubrum Linn.: leaves rhomboid-triangular, deeply toothed and 



