NATURAL ORDERS. 279 



Jier'hs. Learns alternate, entire, often dotted. Floicers race- 

 mose. Calyx 4 or 5 parted. Stamens indefinite, or equal in 

 number to the segments of the perianth and alternate with 

 them. Ovary consisting of one or several carpels, distinct or 

 combined ; styles and stigmas the same in number as the carpels. 

 Fruit baccate, or dry. Seeds solitary, erect or ascending ; emr 

 hryo straight, or curved round mealy albumen. 



a. properties: acrid and emetic. 

 Genera. — Rivina, Phytolacca. 



503. CHENOPODiACEis, tJie Goose-foot Trite. — Herhs or under- 

 s/irubs. Leaves usually alternate. Calyx persistent, some- 

 times tubular at the base. Stamens inserted into the base of 

 the perianth, opposite its segments and equal to them in num- 

 ber, or fewer. Ovary free, 1-celled. Fruit membraneous or 

 fleshy. Seeds erect or resupinate ; einhryo curved or coiled 

 round farinaceous albumen, or spiral without albumen. 



a. Properties : common weeds or sea-side plants ; some are used as pot-herbs ; a 

 few have esculent roots. 



Genera. — Salicornia, Atriplex, Acnida, Spinacia, Blitum, Beta, Kochia, Cheno- 

 podium, Salsola, Corispermum. 



504. Amakantace^, tlie AwMranth Tribe. — Herhs or sJiruhs. 

 Leaves opposite or alternate. Flowers in heads or spikes. Ccc- 

 lyx of 3-5 sepals, scarious, persistent, usually with two bract- 

 lets at the base. Stamens 5 and opposite the sepals, or some 

 multiple of that number, distinct or united. Ovary single, 1 

 celled. Fruit a utricle or caryopsis. Seeds pendulous ; evir 

 hryo curved around farinaceous albumen. 



a. Properties: mucilaginous, emollient. 



Genera. — Philoxerus, Gomphrena, Polycnemum, Acliyranthes, Amaranthus, 

 Celosia, Siphonychia. 



* 505. JSTyctaginace^, the Mirahilis Trihe. — Herhs or shruhs. 

 Leaves usually opposite, often unequal. Flowers involucrate. 

 Calyx tubular, colored, contracted in the middle, indurated at 

 the base ; U?nh entire or toothed, plicate in aestivation, decidu- 

 ous. Stamens 1-20. Ovary superior, 1-celled." Fruit a cary- 

 opsis inclosed within the base of the indurated calyx. Embryo 

 coiled round farinaceous albumen. 



Genera. — Boerliaavia, Mirabilis, AUionia. 



506. PoLYGONACE^, tlie Biichioheat Trihe. — Herhs. Leaves 

 alternate, stipules sheathing round the stems above the leaves. 

 Calyx free, often colored, imbricated in £estivation. Stamens 

 definite, inserted on the bottom of the calyx. Ovary free, 

 usually formed by the adhesion of three carpels. Fruit a nut, 

 usually triangular. Seeds erect ; emhryo inverted, generally on 

 one side, rarely in the axis, of farinaceous albumen. 



a. Properties : astringent and acid. 



Genera. — Erigonum, Oxyria, Rheum, Polygonum, Calligonum, Rumex, P.ruuMi.liia. 



