MONOCHLAMYDE^. 623 



gvnous, or inserted into the base of the lobes; anthers 2-celIed, 

 Ovary superior {fig. 425), or partly inferior, 1-celled, with a 

 single o^Tile attached to its base; style {fig. 425) usually in 2 — 4 

 divisions, rarely simple. Fruit an achanium, or utricle {fig. 

 680), or sometimes baccate. Seed solitary; embryo with or 

 without albumen, with the radicle towards the hilum. They 

 are chiefly distinguished from the Nyctaginace^e by their habit 

 and non-bracteated flowers. 



Distribution, ^c. — More or less distributed over the globe, 

 but most abundant in extra-tropical regions. Examples : — 

 Salicornia, Atriplex, Spinacia, Beta, Chenopodium, Salsola. 

 There are 72 genera, and 510 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 its use for this purpose has much fallen off of late years, in 

 consequence of that substance being more readily extracted 

 from other sources. The plants which thus yield barilla prin- 

 cipally belong to the genera, Salsola, Salicornia, Chenopodium, 

 and Atriplex. Many plants of the order are esculent, as Beet 

 and Mangold-Wurzel; and some are used as pot-herbs, as 

 Spinage {Spinacia oleracea), Garden Orach {Atriplex hortensis), 

 and English Mercury {Chenopodium Bonus Henricus). The 

 seeds of others again, are nutritious. Several contain volatile 

 oil, which renders them anthelmintic, antispasmodic, aromatic, 

 carminative, and stimulant. 



Beta vulgaris. Common Beet. — The root of this plant is used as a salad, 

 and as a vegetable for the table. It is largely cultivated on the continent and 

 elsewhere as a source of sugar, and it is believed that at the present time, 

 about 400 millions of pounds of beet-root sugar are annually produced on the 

 continent of Europe. The Beet which is cultivated for this purpose is con- 

 sidered as a variety of the Common Beet, and is known as the Sugar Beet. A 

 variety of the Common Beet (Beta vulgaris, var. campestris), is the Mangold- 

 Wurzel, so much used as a food for cattle. 



ChenoportiuTTi — The seeds of C. Quinoa contain starch granules, which are 

 remarkable for being tlie smallest hitherto noticed. They are known under 

 the name oi petty rice, and are common articles of food in Peru. C. Bo7ius 

 Henrictts as already meut oned, may be used as a pot-herb. The seeds of C. an- 

 thelmiuticum, Wormseed, are largely employed in North America for their 

 authelmintic properties. They also possess to some extent antispasmodic 

 qualities. The herb generally h^s similar qualities. These effects are due 

 to the presence of a highly odorous volatile oil. C. ambrosiotdes and Botrys 

 are reputed to possess somewhat similar properties, but they ;ire not so power- 

 ful. C. Vulvaria or vlidum. Slinking Goosefoot, is an indigenous plant. It 

 is a popular emmenagogue and antispasmodic. C. amhrosid'ides is employed 

 in Mexico and Columbia as Tea, which is hence known as Mexican Tea. 



Natural Order 184. Basellace^. — The Basella Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — This is a small order of climbing herbs or shrubs 

 closely allied to Chenopodiacese, but readily distinguished by 

 having a coloured calyx with two rows of sepals, and perigynous 

 stamens. There are 4 genera, and 12 species, all of which are 

 tropiical plants. Basella rubra and alba, are used in the East 



