226 CHENOPODE^E. [Salicornia. 



received specimens. Fl. Sept. Q. Nearly allied to P. Hydropiper, 

 but much smaller, procumbent below, with upright spikes, narrow 

 leaves, and undivided stigmas. 



ORD. 61. CHENOPODE^E. Vent. Goose-foot Family. 



Perianth monophyllous, deeply divided, sometimes tubular at 

 the base, persistent, with an imbricated aestivation. Stamens 

 inserted at the bottom of the perianth, and opposite to its seg- 

 ments, equal in number to them, or fewer. Ovary single, free, 

 rarely adherent with the tube of the perianth, 'with a single 

 ovule fixed to the bottom of the cavity : style divided, 2 4- 

 fid, rarely simple : stigmas undivided. Pericarp membranous, 

 valveless, sometimes a berry. Embryo curved round a farina- 

 ceous albumen ; or spiral or bicrural, without albumen : radicle 

 next the hilum : plumule inconspicuous. Generally distributed 

 herbs or low shrubs, especially in temperate regions. Leaves al- 

 ternate, without stipules, sometimes opposite. Flowers small y 

 sometimes polygamous. 



Of this Order, many individuals are potherbs ; some are 

 tonic and anti-spasmodic ; others, the saline species, yield a 

 great quantity of carbonate of soda. Chenopodium olidum ex- 

 hales pure ammonia. 



1. SALSOLA. Linn. Saltwort. 



Perianth single, inferior, 5-cleft, persistent, enveloping the fruit 

 with its base, and crowning it with its broad scariose limb. 

 Seed solitary, its cotyledon spiral. Named from sal, salt. 

 From many of this tribe abundance of alkaline salt is ob- 

 tained, as is implied by the name of our onty British species. 



Pentandria. Digynia. 



1. S. Kali, Linn. Prickly Saltwort. Stems herbaceous, 

 prostrate ; leaves subulate, spinous, scabrous ; segments of the 

 perianth margined, scarious. Br. Fl. 1. p. 139. E. FL v. ii. 

 p. 18. E. Bot. t. 634. 



Sea-shores, frequent. JF2. July. Q.Stem angled, very much 

 branched. Flowers solitary, pale greenish, sessile, with three leaf-like 

 bracteas at the base of each. 



2. SALICORNIA. Linn. Glasswort. 



Perianth single, turbinate, fleshy, obscurely lobed. Stamens 

 one or two. Style short. Stigmas bi-trifid. Fruit an 

 urticle, included in the enlarged perianth. Name, from sal, 

 salt, and cornu, a horn, from the horn-like branches and 

 saline nature of the plants. Monandria. Monogynia. 



