EXOGENOUS OR DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



4G5 



some are pot-herbs, such as Spinach : a few are cultivated for their 

 esculent roots ; as the Beet, 'which yields sugar. Soda is extract- 

 ed from the maritime species, especially from those of Salsola and 

 Salicornia (Samphire, Glass-wort). Chenopodium anthchninticum 

 yields the well-known Worm-seed oil. 



89G. Ortl. AmnrailtacCiE (Amaranth Family). Flowers in heads, 

 spikes, or dense clusters, imbricated with dry and scarious bracts 

 which are often colored. Calyx of three to five sepals, which are 

 dry and scarious like the bracts. Stamens five or fewer, hypogy- 

 nous, distinct or monadelphous : anthers frequently one-celled. Utri- 

 cle often opening as a pyxis (Fig. 575). Embryo annular, always 

 vertical. Otherwise nearly as in Chenopodiaeea\ — Amarantus, 

 &c. A few Amaranths (Coxcomb, &c.) and Globe Amaranths 

 (Gomphrena) are cultivated for ornament. But most of the family 

 are coarse and homely weeds (Pigweeds, &c). 



897. Ord. Polygon acCiE (Buckwheat Family). Herbs with alter- 

 nate leaves; remarkable for their stipules (ochreic, Fig. 305), which 



TIG. 1108. Polygonum Pennsylvanlcum. 1109. Flower, laid open. 1110. Section of the 

 ovary, showing the erect ovule. 1111. Section of the seed, showing the embryo, at one side of 

 albumen. 



