WASTES AND WAYSIDES IN SUMMER 



203 



whicli more or less enclose the fruit ; also five stamens, and two or 

 three styles. The following summary of the characters of these 

 plants will enable the reader to identify them : — 



1. Stinking Goose-ioot {Chenopodium olidum or C. Vulvaria.) — 

 A procumbent or spreading plant, with a granular, mealy surface 

 and a nauseous odour resembhng that of stale fish, especially 

 when rubbed or 



bruised. Stems from 

 six inches to a foot or 

 more in length, and 

 much branched. 

 Leaves stalked , 

 small, ovate, and 

 entire. Flowers in 

 dense, leafless, axil- 

 lary and terminal 

 spikes which are 

 shorter than the 

 leaves. Moderately 

 common in many 

 parts, especially in 

 the eastern coun- 

 ties. Time of flower- 

 ing — August and 

 September. 



2. Many - seeded 

 Goose-foot {C. poly- 

 spermum). — A pro- 

 cumbent or erect, 

 spreading plant, 

 without meaUness or 

 nauseous odour. 



Stem much branched. Leaves ovate or elliptical, entne, green, 

 less than two inches long. Flowers in axillary and terminal, leafless 

 spikes, with a calyx that does not cover the fruit. Common in parts 

 of England, flowering during August and September. 



3. Upright Goose-foot {G. urbicum). — An erect plant, with 

 a stout stem and few branches. Leaves green on both sides. 

 Lower leaves on long stalks, broad, ovate or triangular, with bases 

 narrowed towards the stalk in such a manner as to approach a 

 rhomboidal form, two or three inches long, and irregularly toothed 



TEDE WHITE GOOSE-FOOT. 



