528 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



contams a larger amount of nitrogenous substances than that of 

 the sugar cane, it is practically free from invert sugar. 



b. AMARANTACEtE.— The plants are weed-like and much 

 resemble the Chenopodiaceae. They yield anthelmintic principles, 

 edible seeds, and the leaves of a number of species are used as 

 vegetables. The ash yielded by some species contains potash, as 

 Achyranthes aspera and Amaranthus ruber. Some are ornamental 

 plants having a fasciated inflorescence, as the Cock's-comb 

 (Celosia cristata). 



c. NYCTAGINACE/E OR FOUR-O'CLOCK FAMILY.— 

 The plants are mostly herbs grov^ing in America. The leaves are 

 entire and simple, and the flowers are regular and in terminal or 

 axillary clusters. The perianth consists of a 4- to 5-lobed corolla- 

 like calyx. The most common representative of this family is the 

 Marvel-of-Peru or four-o'clock {Mirabilis Jalapa). While this 

 plant is an annual in the United States, in the Tropics the tuberous 

 root is used as a substitute for jalap, and is sometimes sold for it. 

 The seeds of this plant are edible, as are also the leaves of several 

 species, as of Bai-Jiavia crecta, which are used as green vegetables. 

 Some members of the group, as Bougainvillea spectabilis, are 

 handsome plants with bright rose-colored bracts which envelop 

 the small greenish flowers. 



d. PHYTOLACCACE^.— The plants of this family are 

 mostly tropical and are represented in this region by only one 

 species, namely, the common poke {Phytolacca decandra), the root 

 and fruit of which are used to some extent in medicine. This is a 

 succulent, branching herb i to 4 M. high, having a large perennial 

 root. The stem is hollow except for the thin, papery partitions. 

 The leaves are simple, ovate-lanceolate, petiolate. The flowers 

 are in racemes and characterized by having ten stamens. The 

 fruit is a dark purple, juicy berry (Fig. 293). 



The roots of this species as well as others contain powerful 

 drastic principles, as Pirctinia littoralis and Anisonieria drastica 

 of Chile. Phytolacca abyssinica contains saponin, and a red color- 

 ing principle is found in the berries of Phytolacca decandra and 

 Rivinia tinctoria of Venezuela. The leaves of some species of 

 Phytolacca are used as greens. 



e. AIZOACE^. — This is a group of mostly tropical plants. 



