CHENOPODIACEAB 243 



Annual. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, branched. Leaves 1 to 2 inches long ; petioles ^ 

 to % of an inch in length. Flowers in numerous rather short axillary branching 

 racemes, forming altogether an oblong slender panicle ; usually a single sessile 

 flower in the forks of the peduncles. Seed small, dark purplish-brown. 

 ffab. Roadsides. Nat. of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This is partially naturalized in some few localities, and is 

 occasionally seen in gardens ; but is not common. It is a fragrant 

 herb ; but, unlike the following two, the odor is dissipated in dry- 

 ing. 



2 A. anthelmintica, Spach. Leaves lance-oblong, narrowed at base, 

 unequally sinuate-serrate ; racemes long, spike-like, leafless. 

 Chenopodium anthelminticum. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 177. 

 WORM-DESTROYING AMBRINA. Worm-seed. 



Perennial. Stem 2 to 3 feet high, angular, grooved, branched. Leaves 1 to 2 or , 

 3 inches long, resinous-dotted beneath ; petioles % to % of an inch in length. 

 Flowers in small clusters, disposed in slender naked racemes, or spikes. Styles 3, 

 united at base. 

 Hob. Roadsides; gardens, &c. Fl. July. JFV.Sept. 



Obs. This is said to be a native of our hemisphere, and even of 

 our Southern States. The herb has a strong unpleasant odor; and 

 the^seeds yield the well-known worm-seed oil, a most unpalatable 

 but effective vermifuge; for which the plant is sometimes cultivated. 



3. -A. ambrosioldes, Spach. Leaves oblong, acute at each end, re- 

 motely dentate; racemes interrupted, leafy. 

 Chenopodium ambrosioides. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 175. 

 AMBROSIA-LIKE AMBRINA. Mexican Tea. 



Annual. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, much branched, angular. Leaves 1 to 2 inches 

 long, those on the stem narrowed to a petiole, those on the branches and racemes 

 lance-linear, mostly entire, subsessile. Flowers in interrupted sessile clusters, on 

 slender axillary leafy branches. 

 JJab. Roadsides, Ac. Nat. of both Hemispheres. Fl. Aug. Fr. Octo. 



Obs. This has a strong persistent odor, much resembling that of 

 the preceding ; and, I think, is often mistaken for it> by those who 

 use the plant medicinally. 



348. BE'TA, fournef. 



[Celtic, bett, red : or, from its fruit resembling the Greek letter B (Beta).'] 

 Calyx urceolate, 5-clef t, the base adherent to the ovary, and finally 

 indurated, the lobes remaining unchanged. Ovary depressed ; stig- 

 mas 2. Utride immersed in the base of the calyx, and covered by 

 the lobes ; seed horizontal. Root large and fleshy, formed of con- 

 centric zones ; flowers clustered in leafy spikes. 



1, B. VULGARIS, L. Smoothish ; greenish-purple ; lower leaves 

 ovate-oblong, wavy, upper ones lance-ovate ; flowers in sessile 

 axillary clusters. 

 COMMON BETA. Garden Beet. 



Biennial. Root large (sometimes 5 or 6 inches in diameter, and more than a foot 

 long), of various forms and colors, usually deep crimson, or pale yellow. Stem 2 

 to 4 feet high, sulcate-angled, somewhat paniculately branching. Radical leaves 

 * to 12 inches long ; petiole* 4 to 8 inches in length. Calyx purplish-brown, fleshy 



