constriction across the outer face just below the middle, indicating the part 

 of the seed which fitted into the top of the capsule; these seeds have that 

 part somewhat narrower and the mal-gin more folded over the scar-groove. 

 The Hoary Plantain is intermediate iu appearance between the Com- 

 mon Plantain and the Ribgrass, and its seeds are intermediate between 

 those of Ribgrass and of the Bracted Plantain. 



The Bracted Plaxtaix, Plantago aristata, Michs. This annual Plan- 

 tain is a western plant which is rather uncommon in Canada, although its 

 seeds are not uncommon in grass and clover seed in our seed trade. It has 

 narrow linear grass-like leaves, the whole plant is downy, flower stalks 

 erect, bearing thick cylindrical spikes 1 to 4 inches long, with conspicuous 

 pointed bracts. Capsules 2-seeded. The seeds [Plate 54, fig. 29 — natural 

 size and enlarged 8 times] are boat-shaped, of the same size and form as 

 those of Ribgrass, but are slightly wider, with sharper edges (o the margin 

 of the inner face. The elongated scar consists of two small shallow pits 

 lying close together in the centre of the inner excavated face, the whole of 

 which is whitened by a coating of dried mucilage. The rounded outer face 

 has a distinct shallow groove crossing it just below the middle. This groove 

 and the two pits of the scar present the best characters for distinguishing 

 this seed. 



THE SPINACH OR Q005EF00T F/^MILY, CHENOPODIACE.E. 



The Spinach family contains many weedy plants, some of which are 

 aggressive enemies of the agriculturist. Among these is the so-called Rus- 

 sian Thistle (Noxious: Man., N.W.), and also the Lamb's-quarters, which 

 is probably the most abundant weed in all parts of the country. The flowers, 

 which are almost always green and insignificant, have no corolla; each flower 

 produces only a single seed witiiin a bladder-like covering known as a utricle; 

 but seeds are borne in enormous numbers on each plant. Some plants in this 

 natural order supply wholesome articles of food, as the Spinach, Beetroot, 

 Garden Orache and Lamb's-quarters. 



77 



