242 CHENOPODIACE.32. 



them, and found them salt and juicy. In August the plants 

 put up spikes of green flowers of the kind I have just described, 

 and my curiosity proved to be the Shrubby Orache (Atriplex 

 portulacoides) . 



- At Clevedon the Halberd-leaved Orache (A. patula), grows 

 freely, its prostrate stems embracing the sand or shingle, and 

 its leaves being thick and fleshy ; growing inland, its habit is 

 more erect and its leaves thinner. 



The Frosted Sea Orache (A. laciniata), is clothed with silver 

 scales, and its leaves are trowel-shaped. I have gathered it 

 on the shores of the Firth of Forth. 



The Grass-leaved Orache (A. littoralis), inhabits salt marshes, 

 as does also the Stalked Orache, each of the fruitful flowers of 

 which is situated on a footstalk. I have not found these species. 



My friend the Sea Orache (A. maritima), makes a good 

 pickle ; its stems may be eaten boiled as Asparagus, and the 

 whole herb when cooked forms a far from despicable dish. I 

 cannot pretend that it equals Spinach, but still I feel that the 

 Oraches are a degree less uninteresting than the Goosefoots. 

 If, however, utility is to be the criterion, we must give the 

 preference to the Beet family. 



Our British Beet (Beta maritima), grows on rocks by the 

 seacoast ; it is very plentiful in Cornwall. The leaves are 

 ovate, wavy, and of a full bright green. The flowers grow in 

 pairs up a long spike ; they have five stamens and two stigmas, 

 and are all perfect. It flowers in June and July, 



The Beet of our gardens is another member of this family. 

 Its root is a pleasant winter vegetable, and is capable of being 

 made into tasteful ornaments for garnish. Sugar is made from 

 it to a considerable extent in France. 



The Mangold Wurtzel is also a plant of this family, and the 

 farmer will bear testimony to its high value as food for cattle. 



The Prickly Saltwort I have from the shore at Granton, near 

 Edinburgh, where it grows in great abundance. It is a pros- 

 trate plant, and its slightly rose-tinted calyces give the appear- 



