44 



PICTURE OF ORGANIZED NATURE. 



3. The Order of Knot- Grasses (Polygoneee) com- 

 prehends herbs of various size, which commence with 

 the snow-line, as the Rumex digynus in Lapland : 

 they, for the most part, inhabit the Temperate Zone ; 

 yet become remarkable in warm countries for their 

 growth and medicinal qualities, and in part becom- 

 ing shrubby. Of that kind are the Genera of the 

 Dock (Rumex), the Rhubarb (Rheum), the Knot- 

 Grass (Polygonum). These plants resemble, in some 

 properties, the Monocotyledones, from their leaves 

 shooting out of the sheaths, and the flowers of many 

 of them unfolding 1 themselves in proportion to the 

 number Three. The Buck-wheat (Polygonum fago- 

 pyrum) is made use of for corn. 



4. The Order of Oraches (Atriplices) consists, for 

 the greater part, of herbs and a few shrubs ; chiefly 

 inhabiting the Temperate Zone, but extending also to 

 the Torrid. The Glasswort (Salsola and Salicornia) 

 belong to the latter, inhabiting the coasts and salt- 

 marshes : some of them are used as pot-herbs ; as, 

 the Spinage (Spinacia), the Beet (Beta), the Orache 

 (Atripleoc), the Blite (Blitum), and a kind of Goose- 

 foot (Chenopodium). 



5. The Amaranthi are herbaceous plants, and flou- 

 rish in Temperate climates ; nor are they numerous. 

 Of this Genus, are the Rupture-wort (Herniaria), 



