THYTOLACCACE^. (rOKKWF.KI) FAMILY.) 435 



2. S. herb^cea, L. Annual, erect or at length spreading (6-18' high), 

 green; scales ohstuir and verij blunt, making a truncate harelv eniarginate 

 termination of the longer joints of the stem or elumjated narrower spikes; 

 middle flower much liigher than the lateral ones, slightly shorter than the 

 joint; fruit pubescent; seed §-1" long. — Salt marshes nf the coast and in- 

 terior salt springs, and alkaline localities. 



.3. S. ambigua, Michx. Numerous tufted stems (3-12' long) decum- 

 bent or ascending from a hard and rather woodij creejiing base or rmAstork, 

 greenish, turning lead-colored; spikes slender, short-Jointed, the scales shoii, 

 arutish or acute ; /loicers nearly crpud in height and equalling the joint; seed 

 pubescent, -J" long. (8. fruticosa, var. ambigua, Graj, Manual.) — Sea-coast, 

 Mass. to Fla. and Tex. 



8. SU^DA, Forskal. Sea Elite. 

 Flowers perfect, sessile in the axils of leafy bracts. Calyx 5-parted, fleshy, 

 enclosing the fruit (utricle) and often carinate or crested. Stamens 5. Stig- 

 mas 2 or 3. Seed vertical or horizontal, witli a flat-s]>iral embryo, dividing 

 the scanty albumen (when there is any) into two portions. — Fleshy saline 

 plants, with alternate nearly terete linear leaves. (An Arabic name.) 



1. S. linearis, ^Nloq. Annual, prostrate or usually erect, 1-2° high, 

 branched; leaves narrou- at base, \-2' long, acute ; floral bracts acuminate, 

 on slender branchlets ; sepals very thick ; anthers exserted ; seed horizontal, 

 round-oval, black, ^" broad. (S. maritima, (jraij ; not Dumort.) — Sea-coast, 

 N. Scotia to Fla. — A doubtful form of E. Mass. has the bracts and shorter 

 leaves obtuse, larger flowers on less slender branchlets, and reddish seeds 

 nearly 1" broad. 



2. S. depressa, Watson. Annual, decumbent or erect, branching from 

 the base; liares broadest at base, the cauline3- 12" long, the floral lanceolate 

 to ovate ; one or more of the calyx-lobes reri/ strongly carinate or crested. — 

 Saline soil. Red Kiver Valley, Minn., to Col., and westward. 



9. SALS OLA, L. Saltwout. 



Flowers perfect, with 2 bractlets. Calyx 5-parted, ))ersistent and enclosing 

 the de])resse(l fruit in its base; its divisions at lengtli horizontally winged on 

 the back, the wings forming a broad and circular scarious border. Stamens 

 mostly 5. Styles 2. Seed horizontal, without all)umen, filled by the embryo, 

 which is coiled in a conical spiral (cochleate). — Herbs or slightly shrubby 

 branching plants of the sea-shore, with fleshy and rather terete or awl sliaped 

 leaves, and sessile axillary flowers. (Diminutive of salsus, salty.) 



1. S. Kali, L. (Co.MMON Saltwort.) Annual, diffusely branching, 

 bushy, rough or smoothish ; leaves all alternate, awl-shaj)ed, pricky-pt)iiited ; 

 flowers single ; calyx with the converging lobes forming a sort of beak over 

 the fruit, the large rose or flesh-colored wings nearly orltiiular aud spreading. 

 — Sandy sea-shore, N. Eng. to Ga. Aug. (Eu.) 



Order 88. PHYTOLACCACE^. (Pokewekh Fa.mily.) 



Plants laith alternate entire leaces and perfect Jlowevs, having the general 

 characters of Chenopodiaceae, hid usuallg a several-celled ovarg coniposid 

 of as 77ianJ/ carpels united in a ring, and forming a berry in fruit. 



