DE CANDOLLE'S SYSTEM. 



Plantago Psyllium and others are mucilaginous; the foliage 

 of PI angustifolia is slightly astringent ; this plant, which 

 is commonly called Plantain or Ribgrass, is of some value 

 for sheep-feed in dry exposed places. 

 TYPICAL GENEBA. Plantago, Littorella. 



SUBCLASS IV. MONOCHLAMYDE^:. 



127. Phytolaccacea. Under-shrubs or herbaceous plants. 

 Leaves alternate, without stipules, often with pellucid dots. 

 Calyx inferior, of 4 or 5 petaloid leaves. Stamens indefinite, 

 or, if equal to the number of the divisions of the calyx, alter- 

 nate with them. Ovary of from 1 to several cells, each 

 containing 1 ascending ovule. Fruit baccate or dry, 1- or 

 many-celled. Seeds solitary, with a cylindrical embryo curved 

 round mealy albumen. 



USES. The succulent fruit of Phytolacca decandra is said 

 to be useful in chronic and siphylitic rheumatism ; its juice 

 is acrid, emetic, and dangerously purgative. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Phytolacca, Eivina. 



128. Petiveriacea. Under-shrubs or herbaceous plants, 

 with an alliaceous odour. Leaves alternate, with distinct 

 stipules, often with minute pellucid dots. Calyx of several 

 distinct leaves. Stamens perigynous, indefinite, or, if equal 

 to the segments of the calyx, alternate. Ovary superior, 

 1-celled ; ovule erect. Fruit 1-celled, indehiscent, dry. Seed 

 without albumen ; radicle inferior. 



USES. Petiveria alliacea is acrid, sudorific, and emmena- 

 gogue. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Petiveria, Seguiera. 



129. Chenopodiacea. Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs. 

 Leaves alternate without stipules. Flowers small. Calyx 

 sometimes tubular at the base, persistent. Stamens inserted 

 into the base of the calyx, opposite its segments. Ovary 

 superior, with a single ovule attached to the base of the 

 cavity. Fruit membranous. Embryo curved round farina- 

 ceous albumen, or spiral, or doubled up without albumen. 



USES. Spinach, Garden Orach (Atriplex hortensis), Chard 

 Beet, and Sea Beet, are delicate esculents whose leaves are 

 eaten boiled. The roots of common Beet and Mangel Wurzel 



