SALSOLA.] CHENOPOBIACEJE. 343 



stigmas 2-3 compressed or subulate. Utricle depressed, enclosed in the 

 stellately 5-winged_much enlarged calyx. Seed horizontal, testa membra- 

 nous, albumen ; embryo forming a conical helix. — Distrib. Saline 

 districts ; species about 40. — Etym. sal, from yielding alkalies. 



S. Ka'li, L. ; herbaceous, rigid, leaves spinous-pointed. 

 Sandy sea-shores from Caithness southd. ; Ireland ; Channel Islands; fl. July- 

 Aug. — Annual, pubescent or scabrid, glaucous. Stem 6-18 in., erect or 

 procumbent, striped; branches many, spreading, flexuous. Leaves §-l§ in., 

 spreading and recurved, fleshy, ovate-subulate, |-amplexicaul. Flowers 

 1-3 ; bracts spinescent. Wings of fruiting perianth very variable, broad or 

 narrow, scarious, often rose-coloured. Seed brown, adherent to the pericarp. 

 —Distrib. Europe, N. and S. Africa, N. and W. Asia, India, N. and 

 S. America, Australia.— Formerly burnt for Barilla. 





Order LXII. polygona'ceje. 



Herbs, rarely shrubby. Leaves alternate, simple, quite entire or serru- 

 late ; margins revolute in bud ; petiole dilated ; stipules sheathing, scarious. 

 Flowers usually 2-sexual, pedicels jointed. Sepals 3-6, petaloid or her- 

 baceous, free or connate, persistent, imbricate in bud. Stamens 5-8, 

 rarely more or less, p-rigynous or hypogynous, opposite the sepals ; 

 anthers 2-celled. Disk glandular annular or 0. Ovary free, ovoid, 3- 

 gonous or compressed ; styles 1-3, stigmas capitate or penicillate ; ovule 1, 

 basilar, orthotropous. Fruit indehiscent, hard, usually enveloped in the 

 perianth. Seed erect, testa membranous, albumen floury ; embryo straight 

 and axile, or lateral and curved, cotyledons various, radicle superior. — 

 Distrib. Chiefly temp, regions ; genera 30 ; species about 600. — Affi- 

 nities. With Amaranthacece a,r\d Chenopodiaceos. — Properties. Root often 

 astringent or purgative ; some yield oxalic and malic acids ; the leaves or 

 seeds of others are alimentary. 



Sepals 5, subequal. Fruit compressed or 3-gonous, wingless..l. Polygonum. 



Sepals 6, 3 inner much larger. Fruit 3-gonous 2. Rumex. 



Sepals 4, 2 inner larger. Fruit winged 3. Oxyria. 



1. POLYG'ONUM, Z. 



Herbs. Leaves alternate ; stipules tubular. Flowers 2-sexual, in 

 panicled racemed or spiked clusters ; bracts ochreate. Sepals 5, 3 outer 

 sometimes enlarging in fruit. Di*Je usually glandular. Stamens 5-8 ; 

 anthers versatile. Ovary compressed or 3-gonous ; styles 2-3, stigmas 

 capitate. Fruit 3-quetrous or compressed. Embryo axile or lateral. 

 — Distrib. All climates ; species 150. — Etym. iraAvs and y6w, from the 

 many nodes. 



