CHENOPODIACE.E 



429 



Stem herbaceous, erect, terete, finely ridged and furrowed, 

 striated with red and green, scabrous or coarsely pubescent especi- 

 ally on the ridges. 



Leaves simple, entire, cauline, terete, tipped with a bristle, 

 fleshy, channelled on the upper side at the base only, which re- 

 sembles a clasping petiole, and slightly pubescent, otherwise the 

 leaf is glabrous. 



First, second, and sometimes more of the lower pairs opposite, 

 while the upper ones are alternate. 



Basella alba, L. (fig. 614). 



Hypocotyl erect, terete, succulent, glabrous, pale green, purplish 

 at the base, 2-8 cm. above the soil, 5 mm. thick. 



Stem erect, succulent, glabrous, 

 pale green ; 1st internode 1 cm. 

 long. 



Cotyledons large, oblong, obtusely 

 pointed, foliaceous, glabrous, succu- 

 lent, pale green, obscurely and alter- 

 nately penninerved, shortly petiolate, 

 5'9 cm. long including the petiole, 

 2 - 2 cm. wide. 



Leaves simple, cauline, alternate, 

 petiolate, succulent, glabrous, subre- 

 ticulate, or rather obscurely reticu- 

 late, tapering into the short fleshy 

 petiole which is slightly channelled 

 above, and articulated with the stem. 



Nos. 1 and 2. Opposite, oval, retuse, somewhat obliquely emar- 

 ginate. 



No. 3. Alternate, otherwise like the first two. 



FIG. 614. Basella alba. 

 Half nat. size. 



PHYTOLACCACE^E. 



Benth. et Hook. Gen. PI. iii. 78. 



Fruit and Seed. The ovary is superior and consists of one 

 or several distinct or connate carpels, inserted on a flat or very 

 rarely elevated receptacle. The ovules are solitary in each 

 carpel, attached by a short funicle to the base of the cavity, 



