PHYTOLACCE^E. 299 



6. BLITUM. Linn. 



Perianth 3-cleft. Stamens 1. Styles 2. Seed 1, covered 

 by the calyx, which becomes a berry. Monandria. Digynia. 



1. B. capitatum Linn. : procumbent ; leaves triangular-hastate ; 

 heads of flowers alternate, in a leafless terminal spike. 



HAB. Fields and margins of swamps. N. Y. to Virg. N. to 

 Subarc. Amer. June, July. @.Stem a foot high, branched. 

 Heads round, sessile, consisting of numerous minute flowers, 

 becoming red, resembling a strawberry. Abundant near Rome, 

 N. Y. Strawberry Elite. 



2. B. mrgatum Linn. : leaves triangular-hastate ; heads scattered, 

 lateral. 



HAB. Fields, &c. N. S. June. 0. Leaves with large sinu- 

 ate teeth. Heads of flowers axillary, always lateral, becoming 

 red. Introduced. 



3. B. maritimum Nutt. : perianth membrinaceous ; clusters axillary, 

 spiked, naked ; leaves lanceolate, attenuated at each extremity, in- 

 cisely toothed. 



HAB. Salt marshes near N. Y. Auf. . ^.Stem erect, 12 

 feet high, much branched. Leaves with a few large teeth, suc- 

 culent. Calyx not becoming red. Resembles an Atriplex. 



ORDER XCIX. PHYTOLACCE^. Land. 



Perianth 4 5-petaloid leaves. Stimens either indefinite, 

 or, if equal to the number of the divjaons of the calyx, al- 

 ternate with them. Ovary of 1 or several cells, each con- 

 taining 1 ascending ovule. Styles tnd stigmas equal in 

 number to the cells. Fruit berried or d*y, indehiscent. Seeds 

 ascending, solitary ; embryo cylindrical, curved round mealy 

 albumen ; radicle next the hilum. 



Undershrubs or herbs. Leaves alternate, without stipules, 

 often with pellucid dots, 



1. PHYTOLACCA. linn. 



Perianth 5-parted, peialoid. Stands 7 20. Styles 

 5 10. Berry superior, 10-celled ; cells 1 -seeded. 



Detandria. Decagyttia. 



P.'dccandra Linn. : leaves ovate, acute at eaeh end, alternate, petio- 

 late ; flowers in simple racemes, with 10 stamens and 10 styles ; glo- 

 bose-depressed, purple when mature. 



HAB. Borders of fields. Can. to Car. June Oct. If. Root 

 very large. Stem 48 feet high, succulent, purplish. Flowers 

 whitish, in long pedunculated racemes. Peduncles red. Berries 



