PENTAND. DIGYN. 85 



flowers, greenish. Decandolle says this is biennial, and -distinguishes 

 it from the common Beet, B. vulgaris, in having one or two instead 

 of three or four flowers in the axil of the upper leaves. This is 

 esteemed a wholesome food when boiled. 



38. SALSOLA. 



1. S. Kali (prickly Saltwort), stein herbaceous prostrate, leaves 

 subulate spinous scabrous, segments of the perianth margined 

 scariose. Lightf. p. 151. E. B. t. 634. 



HAB. Sandy sea-shores, frequent. Fl. July. 0. 



Stem angled, very much branched. Flowers solitary, pale reddish, 

 sessile, with three leaf-like bracteas at the base of each. Much 

 used in some countries in the manufacture of alkali. 



39. ULMUS. 



1. U. campestris* (common Elm), leaves doubly serrated sca- 

 brous unequal at the base, flowers nearly sessile 4-cleft with 

 4 stain., fruit oblong naked (Sm.). Lightf. p. 151. E.-B. 

 t. 1686. 



HAB. Woods and hedges, common. Ft. April. Jj . 

 A large tree with rugged bark. Flowers in dense heads,, each sub- 

 tended by a small scale or bractea. 



2. U. glalra (smooth- leaved or WychElm), leaves doubly ser- 

 rated smooth unequal at the base, flowers nearly sessile 5- 

 cleft, fruit obovate naked cloven (Sm.). Lightf. p. 152 

 (mentioned as a var. of U. campeslris). E. B. t. 2248. 



HAB. Common in Scotland, in woods and hedges as far north as. 



Ross-shire, Sutherland, Lightf- Fl. March, April. 1? . 

 Leaves narrower and smooth, except on the under side, where they are 



a little rough. Bark, too, smooth. 



3. U. montana (broad-leaved Elm), leaves doubly serrated 

 pointed rough unequal at the base, flowers on short stalks 

 effuse 5 6 -cleft with 5 6 stam., fruit roundish naked. 

 E.B. t. 1887. 



HAB. Common in Scotland, and certainly a native, Lightf. Fl. April. 



*' 



A very handsome tree, with spreading branches and large leaves and 



very distinct on the first aspect from the other kinds. The different 

 species of Elm have, however, not been so satisfactorily defined as 

 could be wished. They flower early, and, as is the case with trees 

 in general in our climate, before the appearance of the leaves : and 



il I have had no means of ascertaining whether this, or, as I rather sus- 

 pect, the U. subcrosa of E. B. be the common Elm of Scotland ; and Light- 

 foot's description does not at all help me. The characters of U. suberosa are, 

 "Leaves doubly and sharply serrated, pointed, rough, unequal at the base. 

 Flowers on short stalks, 4 5-eleft, with -J 5 static Fruit roundish, cloven; 

 branches spreading, their bark corky." Sm. in E. B. t. 2161. Probably 

 both species will prove to be natives ot Scotland, 





