586 



CHENOPODIACEAE. 



i. Salsola Kali L. Saltwort. (Fig. 1396.) 



Salsola Kali L. Sp. PI. 222. 1753. 



Annual, glabrous or often pubescent, loosely 

 much branched, i-2 high, the branches as- 

 cending or spreading, mostly stout, somewhat 

 ridged. Leaves dull green or grayish, 3 // -io // 

 long, succulent, lanceolate-subulate, swollen at 

 the base, the midvein excurrent into a stout 

 yellowish green prickle; flowers solitary in the 

 axils; wing of the persistent calyx nearly orbi- 

 cular, lobed, becoming lacerate, not conspicu- 

 ously veined, 2 // -4 // in diameter; calyx coria- 

 ceous, not conspicuously veined, its wing not 

 longer than the ascending lobe. 



On sea beaches, Cape Breton Island to Florida. 

 Also in Europe and Asia. July-Sept. 



2. Salsola Tragus L. Russian Thistle. 

 (Fig. 1397.) 



Salsola Tragus L. Sp. PI. Ed. 2, 322. 1762. 

 Salsola Kali var. Tragus Moq. in DC. Prodr. 13: 

 Part 2, 187. 1849. 



Similar to the preceding species, but bushy 

 branched, the branches usually slender. Leaves 

 and outer branches usually bright red at matu- 

 rity; leaves not noticeably swollen at the base, 

 linear, prickle-tipped, less fleshy; calyx mem- 

 branous, conspicuously veiny, its wing longer 

 than the ascending lobe. 



In cultivated fields and waste places. New Jersey 

 to Ontario, the Northwest Territory and Kansas. A 

 very troublesome weed in many parts of the Central 

 and Western States. Naturalized from northern 

 Europe or Asia. July-Sept. 



Family 16. AMARANTH ACEAE J. St. Hil. Expos. Fain, i: 204. 1805. 



AMARANTH FAMILY. 



Herbs, some exotic genera low shrubs, with alternate or opposite simple 

 mostly entire thin leaves. Flowers small, green or white, perfect, monoecious, 

 polygamous, or dioecious, bracteolate, variously clustered, usually in terminal 

 spikes or axillary heads. Petals none. Calyx herbaceous or membranous, 2-5- 

 parted, the segments distinct or united at the base, equal, or the inner ones 

 smaller. Stamens 1-5, mostly opposite the calyx-segments, hypogynous; fila- 

 ments distinct, united at the base, or into a tube; anthers i -celled or 2-celled. 

 Ovary ovoid or subglobose, i-celled; ovule solitary in the following genera, am- 

 phitropous (several in some tropical genera); style short, elongated or none; 

 stigmas 1-3. Fruit a utricle, circumscissile, bursting irregularly or indehiscent, 

 i -seeded in our genera. Seed mostly smooth; embryo annular; endosperm 

 mealy, usually copious. 



About 40 genera and 425 species, widely distributed, most abundant in warm regions. 



Anthers 2-celled; leaves alternate. 

 Calyx 5-parted or of 5 sepals. 

 Calyx of the pistillate flowers wanting. 

 Anthers i -celled; leaves opposite. 



Flowers in small axillary clusters. 

 Flowers variously spicate or paniculate. 



Calyx 5-cleft; filaments united into a tube. 

 Calyx 5-parted; filaments united at the base. 



1. Awaranthus. 



2. Acnida. 



3. Cladolhriv., 



4. Froelichia. 



5. Ircsine. 



