| \ 
3 REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 309 - 
of an ovate form, with prominent nerves and entire margins. The 
flowers ‘are small, of a pale-green color, and very numerous in ter- 
minal and.lateral spikes. Hach minute flower has at'the base three 
stiff, pungent bracts, with five thin, chaffy sepals, five stamens shorter 
than the sepals, and a central ovary or seed vessel containing a sol- 
‘itary black and shining seed. In some cases these flowers contain 
only stamens, and in others only the pistillate organs. The ‘“‘ Lamb’s 
Quarters” or Goosefoot (Chenopodiumalbum) is also known in com-. 
mon language as Pigweed. In some sections it is conveniently dis- 
tinguished from that weed by theappropriate name of ‘* Red Root.” 
The species here described and illustrated seems to be the one most 
abundant in cultivated grounds in this country. Like the other 
_closely-related species which have become weeds, it is an introduc- 
tion from the warmer parts of America or from Europe. 
It is found abundantly native in Mexico and throughout the south- 
ern borders of the United States. 
In Mexico and southern California the Amaranths are often used 
_as forage plants, and the seed is gathered by the Indians for making 
bread. (Plate XI.) 
WILD CARROT (Daucus carota). 
This biennial vegetable is so well known in its cultivated state in 
gardens as to hardly need any special description. It belongs to the 
Order Umbelliferce, which is distinguished by having its small flow- 
ers in clusters, called umbels, so named because the flower stalks all 
start from one point at the extremity of a branch and spread out 
like the ribs of an umbrella. These stalks or rays, as they are called, 
are in most species again divided into smaller umbels called um- 
bellets. In the Carrot these rays are very numerous, and form to- 
gether a close flat-topped cluster, becoming concave in fruit. The 
leaves are divided and subdivided into numerous fine segments. 
The Wild Carrot is abundant in several of the Central and Kast- 
ern States, and is spreading into new localities. It is not trouble- 
some in cultivated land, being confined chiefly to meadows and road- 
sides. It is usually introduced in grass or clover seed. The umbels 
curl up when ripe and hold the seed into the winter, when it is 
gradually scattered ; sometimes the umbels break off and are driven 
over the snow, carrying the seeds to adjoining fields. Fifty thousand 
seeds have been counted on a plant of average size. Carefully cut- 
ane yee plants for two years will eradicate most of them. (Plate 
Coco OR NUT-GRASS (Cyperus rotundus, var. Hydra). 
This so-called grass, a species of Cyperus or Sedge, is regarded as 
the worst pest of agriculture upon sandy soils throughout the South. 
It is said to have been accidentally brought to this country by a gen- 
tleman of New Orleans among some exotics obtained from Cuba. 
Thinking that he had obtained some rare plant he set it in his gar- 
den and thus introduced this terrible scourge. It produces but lit- 
tle seed, but propogates itself mainly by runners which ramify 
through the soil, producing tubers at intervals of 6 or 8 inches and 
sending up stems to the surface. It is exceedingly tenacious of life 
and ordinary plowing and cultivation serves only to make it spread 
more rapidly. ‘‘ The only process yet discovered by which this grass 
