MERCURY GOOSEFOOT. 86 



Mercury Goosefoot (Chenopodium bonus-henricus). 



The genus to which this plant belongs consists of thorough 

 weeds. Their habitat is waste places, usually where the soil 

 is made up of man's refuse. The plants are fairly uniform in 

 colour, from stem to leaf and flower. They are fertilized by the 

 wind, so they have no need to put on showy colours to attract 

 insects. The flowers are small, and the petals are entirely 

 wanting ; they consist of from three to five sepals, from two 

 to five stamens ranged around the ovary, which is surmounted 

 by the two or three spreading stigmas. Some are distinguished 

 by unpleasant odours, and they have little to attract popular 

 attention, although some have been used as potherbs notably 

 the species figured, and which rejoices in the alternative titles 

 of " Good King Henry" and " All-good." 



Mercury Goosefoot (C. bonus-henricus} is a perennial with a 

 thick fleshy rootstock, and erect channelled stems from one to 

 three feet in height. The leaves are large, dark green, and of 

 the shape that botanists describe as " hastate," that is, like the 

 head of an ancient halberd. These leaves are somewhat 

 succulent, and in some places are used as a substitute for 

 spinach. The ovary when ripe becomes what is technically 

 known as a utricle, a thin loose case containing a single seed. 

 In this species the seed is black, marked with small punctures. 

 Flowers May to August. 



All the other British species are annuals, and among them may be noted the 

 Stinking Goosefoot (C. vulvaria\ with spreading stems, small, greasy, mealy 

 leaves, grey-green, and with an odour like rotten fish. Many-seeded Goosefoot 

 (C. polyspermnui), with several spreading branches, ovate leaves and many minute, 

 rough, dark-brown seeds. White Goosefoot (C, album), leaves ovate, covered with 

 a white mealy substance, upper portions toothed, sepals keeled, seed dark, shining, 

 very minutely dotted. Red Goosefoot (C. riibnenz), with erect, frequently red, 

 stems, smooth and shining, leaves variable in form, and the character of the margin, 

 sometimes toothed, sometimes entire, sepals not keeled. The name is from two 

 Greek words, signifying Goosefoot, in reference to the shape of the leaves in some 

 species. 



