650 CHENOPODIACEA. 
Diagnosis.—They are chiefly distinguished from the Nycta- 
ginacez by their habit and commonly ebracteated flowers. 
Distribution and Numbers.—More or less distributed over 
the globe, but most abundant in extratropical regions. Illus- 
trative Genera:—Salicornia, Tourn.; Beta, Tourn.; Salsola, 
Linn. There are above 500 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Several plants of this order inhabit 
salt-marshes, and yield by combustion an ash called barilla, from 
which carbonate of soda was formerly principally obtained; but 
their use for this purpose has much fallen off of late years, in 
consequence of soda being more readily extracted from other 
sources. The plants which thus yield barilla principally 
belong to the genera Salsola, Salicornia, Chenopodium, and 
Atriplex. Many plants of the order are esculent, as Beet and 
Mangel-Wurzel or Mangold Wurzel; and some are used as pot- 
herbs, as Spinach or Spinage (Spinacia oleracea), Garden Orache 
or Mountain Spinach (Atriplex hortensis), and English Mercury 
(Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus). The seeds of others are nutri- 
tious; and several contain volatile oil, which renders them 
anthelmintic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, or stimu- 
lant. 
Beta.—The root of Beta vulgaris, the Common Beet, is used as a salad, 
and as a vegetable. It is largely cultivated on the Continent and elsewhere 
as a source of sugar. ‘Two varieties of the Beet are commonly grown for 
sugar ; namely, that which is known under the name of Betterave & Sucre, 
and the White or Silesian Beet (Beta Cicla) ; the latter being the most 
esteemed. In 1868 about 8,000,000 tons of Beet-root were grown, yielding 
about 650,000 tons of sugar. "Attempts have been made of late years to 
ZTOwW Beet in this country, and there can be little doubt but that there are 
many districts in which it might be cultivated with success. The grated 
root or sugar cake, and the molasses, which are refuse substances obtained 
in the manufacture of beet sugar, are also useful; the former for feeding 
cattle; and the latter, when mixed with water, slightly acidulated with 
sulphuric acid, and submitted to fermentation, yields from 24 to 30 per cent. 
of spirit, which is said to be used to adulterate brandy like potato spirit. 
A variety of the Common Beet ( Beta vulgaris macr orhiza) is usually regarded 
as the Mangel-Wurzel, so much employed as a food for cattle ; but some look 
upon B. maritima as the source of both the Mangel-Wurzel and the varieties 
of the Garden Beet.—B. maritima is sometimes used as a substitute for spinach 
or greens. The petioles and midribs of the leaves of the large White or 
Swiss Chard Beet, Bete Cycla, var., form the favourite vegetable of the 
French termed Poiré ée & carde; it is eaten like Sea Kale or Asparagus, 
Chenopodium.—The seeds of C. Quinoa contain starch granules, which 
are remarkable for being the smallest hitherto noticed, ‘These seeds are 
known under the name of petty rice, and are a common article of food in 
Peru.—C. Bonus-Henricus, as already mentioned, may be used.as a pot-herb. 
The fruits of C. ambrosioides, Linn., var. anthelminticum, Gray, under the name 
of American Worm-seed, are largely employed in the United States for their 
anthelmintic properties. They “also possess to some extent antispasmodic 
qualities. The herb generally has similar properties. These effects are due 
to the presence of a highly odorous volatile oil. Both the oil and fruits are 
official in the United States Pharmacopeia.—C. Botrys is reputed to possess 
somewhat similar properties, but is not so powerful. —C. ambrosioides is also 
employed in Mexico and Columbia as tea, which is hence known as Mexican 
