624 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



large White or Swiss Chard Beet form the favourite vegetable of the French 

 termed Poiree it Catde. It is eaten like Sea Kale or Asparagus. 



fhenopodivm. — The seeds of C. Qitinoa contain starch granules, which are 

 remarkable for being tlie smallest hitherto noticed. These seeds are nutri- 

 tious ; th^ are known under the name of petty rice, and are common articles 

 of food in Peru. €. Bonus Jlenricus, as already m.entioned, may be used as 

 a pot-herb. The seeds of C. anthelininiicum, Wormseed, are largely employed 

 in the United States for their anthelmintic properties. They also possess to 

 some extent antispasmodic qualities. The herb generally has similar pro- 

 perties. These effects are due to the presence of a highly odorous volatile 

 oil. C. ambrosioides and C. Botrys are reputed to possess somewhat similar 

 properties, but they are not so powerful. C. Vulvaria or olidum. Stinking 

 Groosefoot, is an indigenous plant. It is a popular emmenagogue and anti- 

 spasmodic. C. ambrosioides is also 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 by their 

 stamens being evidently perigynous. There are 12 species, all 

 of which are tropical plants. Basella rubra and B. alba are used 

 in the East Indies as a substitute for Spinach. From the former 

 species a purple dye may be also obtained. The fleshy roots of 

 Ullucus tubirosus. or Melloca Uiberosa, are largely used in Peru 

 and some of the adjoining countries as a substitute for the Potato. 



Natural Order 185. Sclekanthace^. — The Scleran thus Order. 

 — Biagnosh. — This is a small order of inconspicuous herbs, fre- 

 quently considered as a sub-order of Paronychiacese, from which 

 its plants are distinguished by the want of stipules ; by being 

 apetalous ; by the tube of their calyx becoming hardened and 

 covering the fruit, which is solitary and 1-celled; and by their 

 stamens being evidently perigynous. 



Distribution , ^'C. — They are valueless weeds found in barren 

 places in the temperate regions of the globe. There are 14 

 species, of which two species belonging to the genus Sclerantkus 

 are natives of Britain. 



. Natural Order 186. Phytolaccace^. — The Phytolacca 

 Order. — Character. — Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves alternate, 

 entire, exstipulate. /lowers perfect, racemose. CWt/x 4 — 5-parted. 

 Stamens nearly or quite hypogynous, either equal in number to 

 the divisions of the calyx and alternate with them, or more 

 numerous ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary superior, composed of 2 or 

 more carpels, distinct or more or less combined in a circle ; 

 styles and stigtnas distinct, equal in number to the carpels. 

 Fruit dry or succulent, each carpel of which it is composed 

 containing 1 ascending seed ; embryo curved round mealy albu- 

 men, with the radicle next the hilum. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Natives principally of America, India, and 

 Africa. Examples of the Genera: — Oiesekia, Phytolacca. 



Properties aoid Uses. — An acrid principle is more or less 

 diifused through'out the plants of this order ; this is frequently 



