CIIENOPODIACEiE. 25 



but as the plant was formerly much cultivated as a potherb, it is almost 

 impossible to say in which of its stations it is native and in which it is 

 introduced. Frequent throughout Ireland, but possibly not native 

 there. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer. 



Very unlike all the other species of Chenopodium in habit, and 

 differing from them in its perennial rootstock and elongate stigmas. 

 Stem stout, bluntly angular, 1 to 2 feet high or more. Leaves resem- 

 bling those of spinach, the lower ones on very long petioles, the lamina 

 of the largest 2 to 5 inches long, the sharp apex of the basal lobes 

 usually spreading, but sometimes inclined backwards; the margins 

 generally entire and undulated ; indeed, I have never seen them with 

 any teeth, except immediately above the basal cusp. Spikes ^ to 2 

 inches long, arranged in a very long narrow panicle, of which often 

 as much as 3 or 4 inches at the apex is destitute of leaves. Stigmas 

 (or rather stigmatiferous styles) spreading, usually 2, but sometimes 3. 

 Seeds pitchy black, as large as rape seed, less compressed than in the 

 other species of the genus; the terminal ones of the spikes horizontal, 

 larger, and reniform-subgiobular. Pericarp adhering very closely to 

 the seed, and giving it a wrinkled appearance ; when it is rubbed off 

 the surface appears smooth, except under a high magnifying power. 

 Plant deej) green, the stem and under side of the leaves clothed with 

 minute pellucid vesicles, which make the plant somewhat soapy to the 

 touch ; stem striped with green and white or red ; perianth yellowish- 

 green or tinged with red. 



In this plant the anthers vary from 2 to 5, and, according to Smith, 

 they are sometimes wholly absent in some of the flowers, so that these 

 become polygamous. 



Allgood. 

 Trench, Anserine hon Henri. German, Cr'tder Heinrich. 



In Dr. Prior's valuable little book on tbe " Popular Names of British Plants " we 

 read thus : — " Good Henry, or Good King Harry : German, Guter Heinrich ; Dutch, 

 Goeden Henrik. An obscure name, which Dodceus tells us was given to the plant to 

 distinguish it from another, a poisonous one, called Malus Henricus ; but why they 

 were either of them called Henricus, we are not told. Cotgrave gives the name Bon 

 Henry to the Roman Sorrel, Bumex Scutatus, as well as to the Allgood, the plant to 

 which it is usually assigned. Cordus on Dioscorides, Frankf. 1549, calls it ' Weyss 

 heyderich, vel ut alii volunt, Chit heynricli.'' It has nothing to do with our Harry the 

 Eighth and his sore legs, to which some have thought it referred." One writer sug- 

 gests that this jDlant was named after Henry the Sixth, who bore, in his own days, 

 the name of Good King Henry, and, as he founded Eton College, he was doubtless a 

 favourite with the monks, from whom many of our plants received their names. Dr. 

 Withering tells us that a French writer says, " This humble plant, which grows on 

 our plains without culture, will confer a more lasting duration on the memory of 

 Henri Quatre than the statue of bronze placed on the Pont Neuf, though fenced 

 VOL. VIII. E 



