426 CHENOPODIUM. [CLASS v. ORDER n. 



mealiness, having a soft unctuous feel. Leaves numerous, three ribbed 

 from the base, and branched, alternate, on rather long channeled foot- 

 stalks, very variable in size and width, mostly ovate or ovate-oblong, 

 with an acute point, and tapering at the base down the footstalk, and 

 one or two large angular teeth on each side, giving it a rhomboid 

 shape, and above these the margin is more or less irregularly erosed 

 and toothed, the upper ones are ovate-oblong, or ovate-lanceolate, 

 entire, and in the variety /3. cymiyerum, they are almost all entire, or 

 only slightly and irregularly toothed, smaller, narrower, and generally 

 more green ; the stem also is more branched from the base, and spread- 

 ing. Flowers very numerous, terminal and axillary, green, in densely 

 crowded oblong clusters, in long branched somewhat leafy spikes, in 

 (3. cymifferum they are much more branched and spreading, less leafy, 

 and on longer stalks, in a somewhat cymose manner. Perianth in five 

 ovate acute segments, with a broad pale margin and green mid-rib. 

 Stamens about the length of the perianth, with roundish ovate anthers. 

 Styles short spreading. Fruit roundish, compressed, enclosed in the 

 dried perianth. Seed roundish, kidney-shape, black, smooth, and 

 shining, appear to be very finely dotted, enclosed in a pale thin 

 membrane. 



Habitat. Waste places, dunghills, &c. ; very common. 



Annual ; flowering in August. 



This is a very common and very variable species, especially in the 

 size and shape of the leaves. With attention, however, to the above 

 descriptions, we do not think much difficulty will be found in recog- 

 nizing it. The whole plant is insipid and inodorous, and has been 

 used as a substitute for the cultivated Spinach. 



13. C.ficifo'lium, Smith. (Fig. 491.) Fig-leaved Goosefoot. Leaves 

 ovate-oblong, with ovate-oblong lanceolate obtuse teeth, the lower ones 

 sub-trilobate and toothed, the upper linear, lanceolate, entire ; flowers 

 in nearly leafless cymose spikes ; seed smooth, shining, with pitted dots. 



English Botany, t. 1724. English Flora, vol. ii. p. 13. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 143. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 214. 



Root branched, fibrous. Whole plant less glaucous and powdery 

 than the above. Slem erect, branched, and spreading, about two feet 

 high, green, purplish at the base, roundish, or angular and furrowed, 

 with pale yellowish lines, sometimes present. Leaves numerous, al- 

 ternate, on channeled footstalks, purplish at the base, paler beneath, 

 with a mid-rib and branched veins, the lower ones somewhat three 

 lobed in a hastate manner, and with irregular teeth, tapering at the 

 point, and elongated at the base down the footstalk, the upper ones 

 linear lanceolate, quite entire, while the intermediate ones are oblong 

 lanceolate, obtusely toothed, one or two at the base on each side larger 

 than the others. Flowers green, in crowded oblong clusters, in terminal 

 and axillary almost leafless branched spikes. Perianth in five oblong 



