FHYTOLACCACE.&. 47!* 



and hermaphrodite or unisexual flowers. They are found in almost 

 ah 1 parts of the world, but do not abound in the tropics. Most of the 

 plants are inconspicuous weeds. There are 67 known genera, and 

 372 species. Examples Chenopodium, Salicornia, Salsola, Atriplex, 

 Beta, Basella. 



987. Many of the plants of this order are used as esculent potherbs, 

 such as Spinacia oleracea, Spinage, Beta vulgaris, Beet, and var. cam- 

 pestris, Field Beet or Mangold Wurzel, Atriplex hortensis, Garden Orach, 

 Chenopodium Bonus Henricus, English Mercury. The seeds of Cheno- 

 podium Quinoa are used as food in Peru, under the name of petty 

 rice. The plant grows at a great elevation. Its leaves are used for 

 spinage. They contain much starch and oil, combined with a bitter 

 substance, which appears to reside in the integuments. Many of the 

 plants grow in salt marshes, and are called Halophytes (A?, salt, 

 and (pvrov, a plant). They yield a quantity of soda. Among them 

 may be enumerated species of Salicornia, Salsola, Halimocnemis, and 

 Kochia. Beet-root yields a quantity of sugar. Ambrina anthd- 

 mintica yields a volatile oil, which is used in the cure of worms. 

 Some of the Chenopodiwns have a very fetid odour. The genus Atn- 

 plex has polygamous flowers, and was placed by Linnaaus in his class 

 Polygamia. Salvadora persica, the true Mustard-tree, atvr,7ci or aivot^i 

 of Scripture, has been referred to this order. Lindley considers it 

 the type of a new order in his Echial alliance. The tree grows in 

 Syria, and it has been found in Ceylon. Its root is acrid. Its succu- 

 lent fruit has the taste of cresses, and its seeds are very small. 



988. Order 147. Phytoiaccaceae, the Phytolacca Family. (Apet. 

 Periyyn.) Perianth 4-5-partite. Stamens usually perigynous, inde- 

 finite, or equal to the segments of the perianth, and alternate with 

 them. Ovary of 1 or several carpels, distinct or combined ; ovule 1 

 in each carpel, ascending or erect; styles equal to the carpels in number, 

 terminal or lateral; stigmas simple or divided. Fruit fleshy and dry, 

 indehiscent, sometimes samaroid. Seeds solitary, erect or ascending; 

 embryo straight or curved; albumen mealy or 0; radicle next the 

 hilum. Undershrubs or herbs, with alternate, entire leaves, which 

 are often dotted. They are natives both of tropical and warm coun- 

 tries, and are found in America, Asia, and Africa. The order has 

 been divided into two suborders: 1. Phytolacceae, with ascending 

 seeds, embryo curved round mealy albumen, and exstipulate leaves. 

 2. Petiverieae, with an erect seed, exalbuminous straight embryo, and 

 stipulate leaves. There are 12 known genera, including about 70 

 species. Examples Phytolacca, Eivina, Petiveria. 



989. There is frequently much acridity in the plants of this order, 

 and some of them act as irritant emetics and purgatives. The 

 succulent fruit of Phytolacca decandra, common Poke, yields a red 

 juice. It has been used as a remedy in cases of chronic syphilitic 



