1909.] PUBLIQ DOCUMENT — No. 31. 35 



about ViQ of au inch in length and has a width of about three- 

 fourths its length. 



Bouncing Bet {Saponaria officinalis, L.). — This seed is 

 flattened, somewhat disk shaped, resembling a lima bean, and 

 of a dull black color. In size it varies from Yiq to %2 of an 

 inch in length. Under the hand lens the surface can be seen to 

 be covered with minute projections arranged in more or less 

 parallel rows along the long axis of the seed. 



Green and Yellow Foxtail (Chcetochloa viridis and C. 

 glauca, L.). — The seeds of the two varieties are different in 

 size, although both have the same general appearance. The 

 seeds of both are flat on one side and very convex on the other. 

 In shape they resemble a double-ended canoe. They are usually 

 a little less than ^g of an inch long. The seeds of the yellow fox- 

 tail are usually somewhat larger and less convex than those of 

 the green, and the color of the seed is somewhat different. The 

 seeds of glauca are greenish yellow in color, while those of 

 viridis are from pale green to light brown in color. Under the 

 hand lens the convex side of the seeds is seen to be covered with 

 transverse wrinkles, which are much more prominent in glauca 

 than in the other. 



Lamb's-quarters, Pigweed, Goosefoot (Cheno podium al- 

 hum, L.). — This seed is usually found whole, and on account 

 of its very similar appearance is likely to be confounded with 

 the true pigweeds. It is double convex in shape, and its diam- 

 eter is usually a little less than Yxq of an inch. In color it is a" 

 glossy black. Very often it is found incased in the hull or cover 

 in which it grows ; it is then gray in color, but has the same gen- 

 eral shape as the seed itself. By rubbing between the fingers 

 the covering may be removed and the shiny black seed exposed. 



Curled Dock (Rumex crispus, L.). — The seeds of the 

 docks and sorrels are often found in grass seeds but are so 

 well known to most people that only a brief description of 

 them will be given here. The seed of the curled dock is a 

 little larger than that of the sorrel, being about %2 of an inch 

 long, and is shaped very much like buckwheat, but is relatively 

 rather broader at the base. In color the seed is a beautiful, 

 glossy, reddish brown. 



