282 chenopodiace^:. [Chenopodiacea. 



or panicles, and often unisexual. Bracts inconspicuous or in a few genera 2 

 lateral ones (or bracteoles) to each flower, adhering to the perianth, and then 

 often described as an outer 2-lobed calyx. 



A considerable Order, spread over the greater part of the world, but most abundant in 

 maritime or saliue situations. 



Stems erect or procumbent, not twining. Bracteoles free or incon- 

 spicuous. 



Leaves flat. Embryo coiled round a mealy albumen 1. Chenopodium. 



Leaves semi-cylindrical, succulent. Embryo spiral, without albumen 2. Sujsda. 

 Stems twining. Bracteoles adhering to and enclosing the perianth . 3. Basella. 



1. CHENOPODIUM, Linn. 



Perianth of 5 (rarely fewer in a few flowers) equal segments, which enclose 

 the ripe fruit, without appendages or alteration excepting a slight enlargement 

 or thickening. Stamens 5 (rarely fewer). Styles 2 or 3, often connected at the 

 base. Embryo curved or coiled round a mealy albumen. — Herbs, either gla- 

 brous or covered with a mealy dust. Leaves alternate, flat. 



The species are rather numerous, widely distributed over the globe, with fewer strictly 

 maritime ones than in most other genera of the Order. 



Lower leaves sinuately toothed or angular 1. C. album. 



All the leaves quite entire 2. C. acuminatum. 



1. C. album, Linn.; Moq. in DC. Prod. xiii. part ii. 73. A tough an- 

 nual, usually erect, sometimes under 1 ft., sometimes 2 ft. high or more, of a 

 pale green or more or less mealy-white, especially the flowers and under side 

 of the leaves. Leaves stalked ; the lower ones ovate or rhomboidal, more or 

 less sinuately toothed or angular, the upper ones usually narrow and entire. 

 Clusters of flowers in short axillary spikes, either dense or interrupted, the 

 upper ones forming a long panicle, leafy at the base. Seeds entirely enclosed 

 in the perianth and all horizontal. 



In waste places, Hance. A common European and Asiatic weed, carried out with culti- 

 vation to most parts of the world. 



2. C. acuminatum, Willd. ; Moq. in DC. Prod. xiii. part ii. 62. Stems 

 1 to 2 ft. high, usually decumbent at the base ; the whole plant pale green or 

 mealy-white like the G. album, but the young shoots and spikes often assume 

 a reddish colour. Leaves from ovate to oblong or lanceolate, seldom above 

 1 in. long, all entire ; the lower ones obtuse, the upper acute or with a minute 

 point. Clusters of flowers small, globular, in interrupted slender spikes, 

 forming the branches of a terminal leafless panicle. Seeds of G. album. — C. 

 Vachellii, Hook, and Arn. Bot. Beech. 269. 



In waste places, Hance. On the adjacent continent, and northward to Loochoo and east- 

 ern Siberia. 



2. STLEJDA, Forsk. 



Flowers and fruit of Chenopodium, except that the embryo is coiled 

 into a flat spire with little or no albumen. — Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves 

 small, linear, semi-cylindrical, and succulent. Clusters of flowers mostly ax- 

 illary. 



A genus of very few species, ranging over the seacoasts of most parts of the globe. 



