204 FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



or lobed. Upper leaves narrower, nearly entire, and acute. Flowers 

 in small, dense clusters, forming rather long, erect spikes. The 

 green perianth does not completely cover the fruit. Common 

 on roadsides and waste ground, fio\\ ering in August and September. 



4. White Goose-foot (C. album). — A very common plant, varying 

 in colour- from a pale green to a mealy white. Stem stout, erect, 

 from one to three feet higli. Lower leaves stalked, ovate or ihom- 

 boid, more or less toothed or angular, but entire at the base. Upper 

 leaves lanceolate, entire. Spikes of flowers irregularly clustered, 

 leafy, and usually branched ; the upper ones forming a long panicle, 

 intermixed with the upper leaves. Perianth cntkely covering the 

 fruit. 



6. Fig-leaved Goose-foot (C. ficifolium) — by some regarded 

 as a distinct species, but by others included among the varieties 

 of C. album. It closely resembles the latter in general appearance, 

 but its lower leaves are di\nded into three unequal lobes, and are 

 somewhat spear-shaped. 



6. Red Goose-foot [C. rubrum). — An erect plant, from one to 

 tliree feet high, with smooth, triangular, irregularly-toothed leaves, 

 resembling those of the Upright Goose-foot. The spikes, also, 

 closely resemble those of the same plant, but the flowers have 

 generally only two or three segments to the perianth, and these often 

 tm-n red as the fruit ripens. The flowers appear during August 

 and September. This species is moderately common in most parts, 

 and especially near the sea, where it may be seen growing on the 

 shingle very close to the water's edge. 



7. Mercury Goose-foot, Allgood, or Good King Henry (C. Bonus- 

 Henricus). — An erect plant, from one to three feet higli, growing 

 from a thick, fleshy root like that of the Dock. Leaves stalked, 

 triangular, acute, wavy or toothed, of a dark green colour. Upper 

 leaves smaller, and almost sessile. Flowers in clustered, comjjound 

 spikes, forming a terminal panicle, leafy below. Fruit completely 

 enclosed in the perianth. This plant was formerly cultivated as 

 a potherb, and is now commonly found on waste ground near 

 villages. Time of flowering — June to August. 



In the same order we have the Common Orache {Atriplex 

 'pati(la) — a very variable plant, from a few inches to three feet in 

 height, with erect or prostrate stem, and more or less mealj^ in 

 appearance. Lower leaves triangular, with spreading lobes at 

 the base. U^pper leaves narrower, and entue or slightly toothed 

 Flowei's in simple spikes, forming leafy, terminal panicles. They 



