AMARANTHACEAE 



245 



and slightly connected at base. Stigmas 2 or 3. Utricle circum- 

 scissed, or indehiscent, 1-seeded; embryo forming a half circle round 

 the albumen. Coarse annuals : flowert minute, in axillary or ter- 

 minal spiked clusters. 



1. A. dlbus, L. Pale green and smooth ; much branched ; leaves 

 gpatulate-oblong, retuse, setaceously mucronate; flowers whitish, 

 triandrous, in small axillary clusters. 

 WHITE AMARANTHUS. 



Stem 1 to 2 or 3 feet high; principal branches from near the base, spreading. 

 Leaves half an inch to 1% inches long, entire, narrowed at base to a slender petiok. 

 % of an inch to 1% inches in length. Bracts subulate-lanceolate, spinescently 

 acuminate, longer than the flowers. 

 Hdb. Waste places; barn-yards, &c. : frequent. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. The books give this as a native of Virginia and Pennsylvania ; 

 but, to me, it has decidedly the appearance of a naturalized stran- 

 ger, in this County. 



8. A, hy'bridus, L. Roughish-pubescent; sparingly branched; dull 

 green; leaves lance-ovate; flowers green, pentandrous, clustered 

 in dense compound ovoid-oblong spikes. 

 HYBRID AMARANTHUS. 



Stem 2 to 4 or 5 feet high k Leaves 2 to 5 inches long, tapering to the apex, but 

 the point rather obtuse, emarginate and setaceously mucronate, the base abruptly 

 narrowed to a petiole 1 to 3 inches in length. Flowers sometimes becoming pur- 

 plish, the staminate and pistillate intermixed. . 

 Hob. Gardens, and cultivated lots: abundant. Fl. Aug. Fr. Octo. 



Obs. This, also> is given as a native of our continent; but I am 

 pretty well satisfied it is not indigenous, in Chester County. It is a 

 troublesome weed, in gardens, if not kept in due subjection. 



3. A. spinbsus, L. Smoothish; bushy-branched; often purplish; 

 leaves rhomboid-lanceolate; axils spinose; flowers pentandrous, 

 clustered in compound oblong terete spikes. 

 THORNY AMARANTHUS. 



Stem 18 inches to 2 or 3 feet high. Leaves 1 to 2 inches long, rather obtuse, 

 mucronate, roughish-dotted, with glaucous blotches beneath; petioles about as 

 long as the leaves, with 2 subulate spines at base % to % an inch in length. 

 Hob. Waste places. Nat. of India. Fl. Aug. Fr. Octo. 



Obs. This is a vile pest, which has found its way to our sea- 

 ports, and is gradually extending itself into the country. It cannot 

 be too sedulously guarded against. 



ORDER LXXIX. POLYGONA V CEAE. 



Mostly herbs, with nodose stems; leaves alternate, usually entire, with stipules 

 commonly sheathing the stem, above the leaves ; flowers generally perfect; calyx 

 of 3 to 6 sepals more or less connected at base, and persistent ; stamens 4 to 12, 

 inserted on the base of the calyx ; ovary 1-celled ; fruit akene-like, lenticular 

 when there are 2 styles, triquetrous when there are 3 styles ; embryo curved, or 

 fctraightish ; albumen mealy. 



351. POL,YG'0]VU]*I, L. 



[Or. Poly, much, or many, & Gonu, a knee, or joint; the stem being much jointed.] 

 Calyx mostly 5-parted, often colored, embracing the fruit. Stamens 



