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On the appearance of Atriplex hortensis, Linn., near Worcester. 

 By Edwin Lees, Esq., F.L.S. 



As I was strolling the other day with a friend along the embank- 

 ment of the Oxford Railway, at Tallow Hill, near Worcester, which 

 has been lying abandoned and neglected for the last three years, I 

 noticed among the rank weeds growing about, a queer looking plant 

 unknown to me in fructification, which I at first took for some species 

 of Dock. There was plenty of it, so I carried one off, and found on 

 examination at home that it was an Atriplex, and it turns out to be 

 A. hortensis, Linn. 



It is characterized by its very large green reticulated and entire 

 perigynes, devoid of all tubercles or scaly granulations, though its 

 foliage is as " frosty" as any others of this puzzling tribe. Dr. Brom- 

 field has mentioned it as occuring in a wild habitat on the coast of 

 the Isle of Wight (Phytol. ii. 330) ; but as at present no place is as- 

 signed to it in our Floras, at the dagger's point (f), I am unaware 

 to what extent it may have been noticed by other botanists. At all 

 events, this is its first recorded appearance in Worcestershire. If we 

 are to have any migratory or uncertainly occurring plants at all in our 

 floras, I can see no good reason why this should not possess a nook 

 in a British list, as it does in the ' Flora Gallica,' from which work I 

 subjoin the following short account of it. 



"Atriplex hortensis, Linn. Sp. 1493; Dod. Pempt. 615; Blackw. 

 Herb. t. 99, et 552 ; A. domestica. Matth. Valgr. 459 ; Arroche, 

 Bonne-dame. 



a. caule herbaceo erecto, foliis oblongo-triangularibus subdenta- 

 tis, floribus racemosis axillaribus terminalibusque, calycibus 

 seminum ovatis reticularis acutiusculis integerrimis. 

 /3. A. hortensis rubra. Bauh. Pin. 119. 

 Flores subherbacei, Junio. In hortis et olitoriis colitur."* 

 This Atriplex appears to have been an old olitory herb, though I 

 should think, worn out and almost entirely forgotten in this country, 

 whatever charm it may still hold upon continental cultivators of vege- 

 table condiments. I have no recollection of observing it anywhere in 

 our town or village gardens, though doubtless it must have lain neg- 

 lected somewhere, and is now coming up to present its claims again. 



* Flora Gallica, seu Enumeratio Plantaium in Gallia sponte nascentium : auct. 

 J. L. A. Loiseleuv Deslongchamps, torn. i. p. 218. 



