274 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



thick and strong branches, somewhat procumbent 

 for the greater part of their length, but raised at 

 the points. The leaves are fleshy and succulent, 

 three or four inches long, of a dark green on the 

 under part, but of a paler colour on the surface, on 

 which the mid-ribs and nerves are strongly marked. 

 They are triangular, or rather of an elongated heart- 

 shape, having the angles at the base rounded, and 

 the apex sharp and extended. The flowers are 

 small, and of a yellowish green colour; they appear 

 in August and September. The whole plant is 

 thickly studded with minute aqueous tubercles; a 

 peculiarity likewise to be found in some species of 

 atriplex and chenopodium. 



In six weeks after sowing, some of the leaves of 

 the plants are fit for gathering. These are pinched 

 off, and not torn from the branches. 



This plant has been likewise found growing on 

 the Tonga Islands; and Thunberg discovered it of 

 spontaneous growth in Japan.* 



New Zealand spinach is remarkable as being al- 

 most the only native of the isles of Australasia which 

 has been found worthy of -a place in the kitchen-gar- 

 dens of Europe. 



ASPARAUINOUS PLANTS. 



THE ancients were accustomed to class all young 

 sprouts of vegetables under the general name of as- 

 paragus. In agreement with this arrangement, all 

 those x pulpy shoots, stems, buds, and bottoms of com- 

 pound flowers, which undergo culinary preparation 

 before they become auxiliary articles of food, will be 

 here designated as asparaginous plants. 



The nature of this class of vegetables causes them 

 to be always of more expensive cultivation than other 



* Hort. Trans, vol. iv. 



