CHENOPODIACEAE (GOOSEFOOT FAMILY) 83 



U. Sheaths 1-12 mm. long; flower clusters mostly axillary. 



V. Sheaths 1-3 mm. long; flowers usually more than 4 in a cluster; perianth 



segmented to near the base. C. P. newberryi 



W. Sheaths 6-1 2 mm. long; flowers 2-4 in a cluster; perianth segmented to 



near the middle. C. E. P davisiae 



UU. Sheaths 13-50 mm. long; flower clusters mostly panicled. 



W. Leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate; perianth white or greenish; akene 



obovoid. C. E. P- alpinum 



WW. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate; perianth white or pinkish; akene 



ovo id. E. P- phytolaccaefolium 



AA. Plants twining or climbing, vines; leaves sagittate or sagittate-cordate. 



X. Annual; stems somewhat rough; outer perianth segments narrowly winged or not 



at all; akene minutely roughened, dull. W. E. P. convolvulus (BLACK BINDWEED) 



XX. Perennial; stems smooth; outer perianth segments broadly winged; akene 



smooth, shining. W. E. P. scandens (FALSE BUCKWHEAT) 



CHENOPODIACEAE (GOOSEFOOT FAMILY) 



Herbs or shrubs, often mealy. Leaves alternate or opposite, 

 simple, entire to lobed, sometimes mere scales or ridges (Salicornia) ; 

 stipules none. Flower commonly in panicled spikes, green or green- 

 ish, regular or nearly so; bracts none or green or fleshy. Perianth 

 none or various ; segments alike. Stamens as many as the perianth- 

 segments or fewer, opposite them. Ovary mostly superior, i -celled; 

 styles 1-3. Fruit a utricle. Seed i. Family too difficult for 

 beginners. Key mostly only to genera. (F. & R. pp. 140-145.) 



A. Leaves not reduced to scales, alternate in nearly all; branches not conspicu- 

 ously opposite; stems not conspicuously jointed, not very fleshy. 

 B. Leaves opposite. 



C. Plants perennial, herbs, not shrubby; flowers perfect; perianth of 5-7 seg- 

 ments. E. (Gk. nitron = native soda, philos = loving; from its alkali 

 habitat.) Nitrophila occidentalis 



CC. Plants either annual herbs or shrubby perennials; flowers imperfect; per- 

 ianth none or 2-5-parted. (See F.) 

 BB. Leaves alternate. 



D. Herbs, sometimes shrubby at base; leaves entire or not; flowers perfect in 

 most; fertile flowers with perianth in most. 



E. Leaves not linear; perianth segment i; stamen i. E. (Gk. monos = i, 

 lepis = a scale; referring to the single perianth segment.) 



Monolepis (MONOLEPIS) 



EE. Either leaves linear, or perianth segments and stamens 2 or more. 

 F. Flowers monoecious or dioecious; fertile flowers without perianth; leaves 

 not linear in most. Often in alkali places. (Gk. atraphaxos = not nourish- 

 ing; they are weeds.) Atriplex (ATRIPLEX) 

 FF. Flowers perfect; perianth of 1-5 segments or lobes; leaves various. 

 G. Leaves wider than linear. Common weeds. Some cooked for greens. 

 (Gk. chen = a goose, pous = a foot; referring to the form of the leaf in 

 some species.) Chenopodium (GOOSEFOOT) 



