DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 



337 



depressed, enclosed in the calyx; one-chambered, one-seeded; 

 styles two (occasionally more) ; fruit a utricle or occasionally an 

 achene. A large but not very pleasing family containing many 

 weeds and two vegetables. 



The common garden beet (Beta vulgaris) (Fig. 174) is a 

 native of the Mediterranean regions and was used 500 years or 

 more before the Christian era. Two varieties of it are the 



FIG. 175. Sugar-beet production. 



sugar beet, that is grown extensively for the manufacture of 

 sugar (Fig. 175), and the mangel-wurzel, that is grown ex- 

 tensively for stock feed. 



Spinach (Spinacia, oleracea Linn.) was first known in Europe 

 in the sixteenth century. Its early history is unknown, but it 

 probably originated in Persia and found its way into other parts 

 of Asia long before it was generally known in Europe. 



NYMPHJEACE.E. Herbs; aquatic, perennial and growing 

 from horizontal root stocks ; flowers perfect and usually showy ; 

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