228 FLOWERS OF WASTE PLACES, ETC. 



vated fields throughout the country, exhibiting numerous forms and 

 intermediates which are an interesting but difficult puzzle to the 



beginner. 



The stems are erect, 

 from a woody base, much 

 branched, with spreading 

 branches, which are smooth 

 or with rounded hairs, 

 veined, and angular. The 

 leaves are flat, egg- 

 shaped, or rhomboidal or 

 triangular at the base, 

 with few, blunt teeth, the 

 upper ones entire, narrow ; 

 and the name Goosefoot 

 refers generally (as a 

 translation of the first 

 Greek name) to the shape 

 of the leaves, the second 

 name referring to the 

 general mealy, whitish 

 colour of some forms of 

 it. There are alternate 

 bands of colour. At night 

 the young leaves become 

 erect. 



The flowers are green- 

 ish-yellow, in compound 

 branched racemes, with 

 or without leaves, 5- 

 merous, apetalous, with- 

 out a corolla. The fruits 

 are smooth, nearly kidney- 

 shaped, larger than the 

 calyx, and enclosed by 

 the segments. 



This plant is 2-4 ft. high. The flowers are in bloom between 

 July and September. It is an annual and propagated by seeds. The 

 stigma ripens first, and there is honey. The flowers are anemo- 

 philous, pollen being transferred by the wind, the plant growing in 

 colonies making this effective. It is also visited by pollen -eating 



Photo. B. Hanley 



ALL-GOOD (Chenopodium album, L.) 



