370 AMARANTAOE.E. (AMARANTH FAMILY.) 



1. M. fainairisciiiia. (Amarantus tamariscinus, Nutt., & cd. 1. A. 



altissiinus & Miamensis, Riddell. Acnida altissima, Michx. herb. A. rusocarpa, 

 Moquin, &c.) — Low grounds and moist sandy shores, Vermont to Wisconsin, 

 Illinois, and southward, especially westward. Aug., Sept. — Var. concate- 

 NAta is a form with the lower clusters in the fertile plant forming thickish dis- 

 tant heads (i'-J' in diameter) in the axils of the leaves; the stems often low 

 and spreading or decumbent. — A very variable plant, as to inflorescence, height 

 (l°-6° high), the size and shape of the leaves (l'-5' long, the petioles often of 

 the same length), the bracts more or less awl-shaped, equalling or exceeding the 

 fruit (which is that of Amarantus) : but all are forms of one species. The 

 sterile plant is Acnida rusocarpa, Michx., or was mixed with it in Miehaux's 

 collection, but not the fertile ; for the fruit of the present plant is neither obtuse- 

 angled, rugose, nor indehiscent. Besides, that name is unmeaning. In estab- 

 lishing this genus, therefore, as Moquin clearly would have done had he exam- 

 ined the ripe fruit, I adopt Nuttall's specific name. 



4. ACNIDA, L. Watek-Hemp. 



Fruit a fleshy and indehiscent utricle, 3-5-angled, the angles often rugose or 

 tubercled-crestcd. Stigmas 3-5, shorter than the ovary, linear-awl-shaped. 

 Flowers in rather loose panicled spikes. Otherwise as in the last genus. (Name 

 formed of a privative and Kvidrj, a nettle.) 



1. A. CiiBiEBi^JtiiRia, L. Leaves elongated-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 

 long-petioled ; fruit globular (li" — 2'' long), much exceeding the pointless 

 bracts. ■; < - — Salt-marshes on the coast, Massachusetts to Virginia and south- 

 ward. Aug. -Oct. — Plant 3° -6° high. — Probably the only species ; for A. 

 rusocarpa, Michx., is certainly to be divided between this and Montelia tamaris- 

 cina ; and A. tuberculata, Moquin, is likely to be one or the other. 



5. I RE SINE, P. Browne. Iresine. 



Flowers mostly polygamous or dioecious, 3-bracted. Calyx of 5 sepals. Sta- 

 mens mostly 5 : filaments slender, united into a short cup at the base : anthers 

 1 -celled, ovate. Fruit a globular utricle, not opening. — Herbs, with opposite 

 petioled leaves, and minute scarious white flowers crowded into clusters or 

 spiked and branching panicles, the calyx, &c. often bearing long wool (whence 

 the name, from elpeaiavr), a branch entwined with fillets of wool borne in pro- 

 cessions at festivals.) 



1. I. celosioides, L. Nearly glabrous, erect, slender (2°-4° high), 

 leaves ovate-lanceolate ; panicles narrow, naked ; bracts and calyx silvery-white, 

 the latter woolly at the base. ® — Dry banks, Ohio, Kentucky, and south- 

 ward. Sept. 



6. FR«EEICHIA, Mcench. (Oplotheca, Nutt.) 



Flowers perfect, 3-bracted. Calyx tubular, 5-cleft at the summit, below 2-5- 

 crested lengthwise or tubercled and indurated in fruit, and enclosing the closed 

 thin utricle. Filaments united into a tube, bearing 5 oblong 1 -celled anthers, 

 and as many sterile strap-shaped appendages. — Hairy or woolly herbs, with 



