ORDER XCV. AMARANTHACE.E AMARANTII-FAM. ORDER XOVII. POLYGONACE^] BUCKWHEAT-TRIBE. 191 



1. S. oleracea. 



Spinage. 



Stem erect, branching; leaves hastate-lanceolate, tapering at base, on long 

 petioles; flowers greenish ; barren in a terminal panicle ; fertile in dense, sessile, 

 axillary racemes ; fruit sessile, prickly, or unarmed. A common plant in kitchen 

 gardens. Stem 12 ft. high. June July. 



1. ACNiDA. 



Flowers dioecious. Barren flowers calyx 5-parted ; stamens 

 6. Fertile flowers calyx 3-parted ; stigmas 3 5, sessile, linear, 

 revolute ; ovary 3 5-angled. Utricle 1-seeded. An. 



1. A. cannabina. Water Hemp. 



Stem erect, branching, furrowed, smooth; leaves lanceolate, tapering to a 

 long point, attenuate at base, petiolate ; flowers small, greenish, sessile in clus- 

 ters, forming crowded, axillary and terminal spikes, or panicles ; fruit smooth, 

 with acute angles. A common, homely plant, in salt marshes; rare in inland 

 swamps. Stem 23 ft high. Aug. Sep. 



8. ATEIPLEX. 



Flowers polygamous, the barren and fertile mostly on the same 

 plant. Staminate and perfect flowers bractless ; calyx 3 5-part- 

 ed; stamens 3 5; style, when present, 2-parted. Pistillate flow- 

 ers furnished with 2 bracts, but destitute of a calyx; styles 2, 

 partly united. Utricle depressed, inclosed in the bracts. Leaves 

 alternate. An. 



1. A. hortensis. 



Garden Orache. 



Stem erect, branching, herbaceous ; leaves triangular, dentate, of the same 

 color on both sides, quite variable in shape ; flowers green, in dense clusters. 

 forming an interrupted, terminal spike; calyx of the fruit ovate, reticulate, en- 

 tire. Occasionally found in cultivated ground, and sometimes grown as a pot- 

 herb. Stem 23 ft. high. July. 



2. A. patula. 



Spreading Orache. 



Stem procumbent, very branching ; leaves triangular-hastate, or sinuately 

 toothed, acuminate, of a thickish texture ; upper ones lanceolate ; bracts of the 

 fertile flowers rhombic, acute, studded with tuberculous points on their upper 

 surface; flowers greenish, in dense clusters, arranged in long, axillary and ter- 

 minal, interrupted spikes. A common weed in salt marshes. Stem 12 ft 

 long. Aug. An. 



ORDER XCV. AmarantMcese. Amaranth- 

 family. 



1. AMAKANTHUS. 



Flowers monoecious or polygamous, sometimes dioecious, with 

 3 bracts. Sepals 3 5, mostly colored, persistent. Stamens 3 

 5. Styles 2 3, sometimes 4, filiform. Utricle indehiscent, cir- 

 cumscissile, 1-seeded. An. 



* Stamens 3. 



1. A. albufc. White Cockscomb. 



Smooth; stem erect or ascending, mostly branching, angular; branches 

 spreading or horizontal; leaves obovate, or oval-spatulate, entire, retuse, with a 

 mucronute point, light green, tapering at base, petiolate ; ramial leaves much 

 smaller ; flowers greenish, inconspicuous, in axillary clusters, furnished with 

 numerous lance-subulate bracts, tipped with bristles. A very common weed in 

 cultivated grounds. Stem 1 2 ft. high. July. 



* * Stamens 5. 



2. A. hybridus. 



Hybrid Amaranth. 



Pubescent and somewhat rough ; stem erect, furrowed, simple or sparingly 

 branched ; leaves alternate, ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, mucronate, emarginate, 

 on long petioles; flowers minute, green, at length dull red, in dense, crowded, 

 axillary and terminal spikes. The terminal spike is decompound ; but the others 

 are mostly simple ; bracts subulate, longer than the flowers. A common weed 

 in waste and cultivated grounds. Stem 15 ft. high. July Oct. 



3. A. hypochondriacus. Princess' Feather. 



Nearly or quite smooth ; stem erect, stout, simple or sparingly branched ; 

 leaves ovate, varying to oblong, entire, mucronate, green, spotted or tinged 

 with purple ; flowers minute, sessile, clustered In erect, compound spikes, deep 

 purplish-red i bracts subulate, of the same color. Common around gardens, 



and often cultivated. The whole plant is more or less tinged with purple. 

 Stems 2 3 ft high, with long, plumose clusters. July Sep. An. 



4. A. melancholicus. Love-lies-bleeding. 



Stem erect, simple or sparingly branched ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, colored; 

 flowers minute, in dense clusters, arranged in axiDary, roundish, nodding, pe- 

 dunculate racemes. The whole plant is of a purple color. Stem 1 2 ft high 

 July Aug. 



2. GOMPHKfeNA. 



Flowers perfect. Bracts 5, colored ; 3 outer carinate, conver- 

 ging. Sepals 5, hairy. Disk cylindric, 5-toothed. Stamens 5. 

 Stigma 1. Utricle circumscissile, 1-celled. An. 



1. Gr. globosa. Globe Amaranth. 



Stems erect, hairy, with opposite, axillary branches ; leaves opposite, ob- 

 tuse, pubescent; flowers purple, in dense, globose, solitary heads, furnished 

 with 2 leaves at base. A pretty annual, cultivated for its almost imperishable 

 and fadeless heads of flowers. Stem 10' 18' high. July Sep. 



3. CELdSIA. 



Sepals 3 5, colored. Stamens 5, united at base by a plicate 

 disk. Style 2 3-cleft. Utricle circumscissile. An. 



1. C. cristata. Cock 1 s-comb. 



Stem erect, mostly simple; leaves ovate, acuminate, mostly alternate; sti- 

 pules falcate, striate ; flowers small, densely crowded, in large, compressed, 

 thin clusters, bright, purplish-red. The crests of flowers vary 2' S' in breadth. 

 Common in cultivation. The whole plant is bright-red ; but the largo crests are 

 the most ornamental portions. Stem 12 ft high. June Sep. 



ORDER XCVI. Nyctaginacese. Mirabilis- 

 family. 



1. MIPvABILIS. 



Calyx funnel-form with 2 bracts at base ; tube contracted, free 

 from the ovary; limb plaited, entire, deciduous. Stamens 5. 

 Style 1. Stigma globose. An. 



1. M. Jalapa. 



Four d clock. 



Stem erect, dichotomous, smooth ; leaves opposite, one of each pair smaller, 

 cordate, acuminate, smooth ; flowers pedicellate, in axillary and terminal 

 clusters, large and fragrant ; root large and tuberous. A common and very 

 showy plant, in cultivation. Stem 2 3 ft high. Flowers usually purple, but 

 varying to white, yellow, red and variegated, opening about 4 p. M., and closing 

 by sunrise. June Sep. 



ORDER XCVII. Polygonacese. Ituckwheat- 

 tribe. 



1. KHfeUM. 



Calyx colored, of 6 sepals, persistent. Stamens 9. Styles 8. 

 Stigma many-parted, reflexed. Acheuia 3-angled ; angles wineed. 

 Per. 



1. R. Rhaponticum. Garden Rhubarb. 



Stem erect, stout, fleshy, hollow ; joints sheathed by large stipules ; leaves 

 ovate, cordate, obtuse, smooth ; petioles rounded beneath, channelled above ; 

 flowers very numerous, greenish -white, in fasciculate clusters, arranged in 

 racemes, which form a large, terminal panicle, at first inclosed in a large, white, 

 membranous bract, which at length bursts and releases it. A very common 

 plant in gardens, cultivated for its large, acid petioles, which are used for pies, 

 tarts and sauces. Stem 3 6 ft high. May. 



2. POLfGONUM. 



Calyx 4 6, mostly 5-parted; segments often petaloid, per- 

 sistent, and inclosing the achenium. Stamens 4 9, mostly 8. 

 Styles 2 3, mostly 3, short, filiform. Achenium mostly triangular. 



* flowers axillary. Stems jointed. Stigmas 8. 



1. P. aviculare. Knot-grass. 



Smooth ; stem procumbent, spreading, branching ; branches ascending ; 

 leaves oblong, or oblong-lanceolate, rough on the margin, acute, sessile, mostly 

 pale-green; stipules short, white, gashed : flowers nearlv sessile, 2 3 togethet 



