Chenopodium. | CHENOPODIACEZ!. 581 
A. Cunn. Precur. n. 363; Raoul. Choiz, 43; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. 
i. 218; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 230; Benth. Fl. Austral. v. 161. C. am- 
biguum, &. Br. Prodr. 407. 
North anp Sour Isnanps, Stewart Isnanp: Common throughout in 
muddy or sandy places near the sea, also occasionally found in saline localities 
inland. November—March. 
Also occurs in Australia and Tasmania, and common in many parts of 
Europe and temperate Asia, &c. The New Zealand and Australian plant is 
sometimes kept as a separate variety or species (C. ambiguum, R. Br.), but the 
differences appear to be slight and inconstant. 
4. C.urbicum, Linn. Sp. Plant. 218.—A coarse erect or spread- 
ing branching herb 1-2 ft. high or more, green and glabrous or 
rarely slightly mealy; stem angled, grooved. Lower leaves on 
slender petioles $-1in. long; blade #-14in., triangular or rhombic- 
ovate, coarsely and irregularly toothed and lobed, rather thin, 
green on both surfaces, veined; upper smaller, narrower, more 
acute. Flowers small, in little clusters arranged in dense leafless 
axillary spikes, or in terminal panicles which are leafy below. 
Stamens 5, exserted. Styles short. Fruiting-perianth ;4 in. diam. ; 
segments obtuse, not completely covering the utricle. Seed hori- 
zontal, much depressed, minutely punctulate, margins obtuse.— 
Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 2138; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 230. 
NortH Istanp: Hast Coast, Colenso! Has also appeared as a naturalised 
plant near Wellington. SourH Istanp: Not uncommon, especially in South 
Canterbury and Otago. Sea-level to 1000 ft. December—March. 
A common Huropean weed, which has become naturalised in North America 
and some other countries. It is probably not a true native of New Zealand. 
5. C. ambrosioides, Linn. Sp. Plant. 219.—An erect much- 
branched strong-smelling glandular annual herb 1-3ft. high; 
branches slender, strict, leafy. Leaves shortly petiolate, 1-4 in. 
long, ovate- or oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 
cuneate at the base, coarsely sinuate-toothed or -lobed, membranous, 
glabrous or pubescent, green, not mealy; upper ones gradually 
smaller, linear-lanceolate, entire or nearly so. Flowers exceedingly 
numerous, very minute, in little clusters in slender axillary often 
elongated spikes, frequently so copiously produced as to render the 
upper portion of the plant a large leafy panicle. Stamens 6. 
Styles 3-4, elongate. Fruiting-perianth about in. diam., segments 
closed over the fruit and completely enclosing it. Seed horizontal 
or rarely vertical, smooth, polished, shining, margins obtuse.— 
Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 213; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 230; Benth. Fil. 
Austral. v. 162. 
Nortu Isuanpd: Warm lowland stations from the North Cape to Taranaki 
and Hawke’s Bay, not common. Has also appeared as a naturalised plant near 
Wellington. December—April. 
