122 COMMON WEEDS 



are also found in samples of many species of clover 

 and grass seeds. 



Spreading Orache (Atrip/ex patula L.) is a variable 

 mealy annual, occurring on all soils, and generally 

 found in similar situations to the last species. It may 

 be only 6 inches or as much as 3 feet high, " often with 

 the central branch erect and the rest prostrate, appear- 

 ing as if they had been bent down by force " (Johns) ; 

 the somewhat triangular leaves have two lobes at the 

 lower angles, or are entire and lanceolate ; the small 

 greenish flowers are in slender spikes of separate 

 clusters, and appear from June to October. The seeds 

 are very variable in size, the larger being dull, dark 

 brown and compressed, and the smaller darker, smooth 

 and shining. 



Halberd-leaved Orache (Atriplex hastata L.) is an 

 annual closely resembling A. patula, of which it is by 

 some botanists considered a sub-species ; the lower 

 leaves are more halberd-shaped, and, as in the last 

 species, there are larger brown rough seeds and 

 others smaller, black and smooth. 



These three species, together with several others 

 more or less closely resembling them, may largely be 

 destroyed in corn crops by surface cultivation in 

 spring, the seedlings being easily loosened from the 

 soil by harrows. Later, any plants which have escaped 

 observation should be hand pulled before flowering and 

 seeding takes place. In root and hoed crops generally 

 frequent and vigorous hoeing in hot sunny weather 

 when the plants are small, as in the seedling stage, 

 will easily destroy them. Pure farm seeds should 

 always be used. 



