APETAL^ igg 



and acute, entire, or toothed. The upper leaves are 

 lance-shaped, entire. 



The flowers are in simple or panicled spikes, 

 which are interrupted, leafy below. The perianth- 

 segments are triangular to rhomboidal, and slightly 

 prickly on the back, longer than the utricle, being 

 united below. The seeds are dimorphic, the larger 

 ones dark brown, rough and flattened, the smaller 

 black and shining, smooth. 



Sometimes less than a foot in height, this species 

 may reach a height of 4 ft. It flowers from July up 

 till September, fruit being found in October. It is a 

 herbaceous annual, prolific and difficult to eradicate. 



Lacking a corolla the flowers are inconspicuous, 

 and pollination is effected in the main by the wind. 

 As the flowers are unisexual, and the plant is 

 monoecious, self-pollination is precluded, and cross- 

 pollination may be also largely effected by creeping 

 insects. The male flowers have three to five regular 

 perianth-segments, three to five stamens, which are 

 hypogynous, with slender antherstalks, and there is a 

 rudimentary ovary; the female flowers have two peri- 

 anth-segments or bracts, which are free or united 

 below, no stamens, two slender styles united below. 



The utricle is enclosed in the calyx or bracts, 

 which enlarge after the ovule is fertilised, and the 

 utricle may be dispersed by the wind, or fall to the 

 ground. 



Fat Hen, Hard-iron, Lamb's Quarters are the 

 only vernacular names. 



