274 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



06s. Very generally cultivated for its fine esculent root of which 

 there are several varieties. That one called " Sugar-beet " with a 

 pale, yellowish root is extensively cultivated, on the continent of Eu- 

 rope, for the purpose of making sugar, and has been partially tried in 

 this country : but while we have the Sugar-maple and Sugar-cane to 

 supply us, it is not probable the Beet will be much relied upon, for that 

 object. A large rooted variety of B. Cicta, L.*(a nearly allied species), 

 called Mangel Wurtzel, or Scarcity Root, is sometimes cultivated for 

 stock, and is probably entitled to more attention than it has yet 

 received from our farmers who are not generally partial to the culture 

 of root crops. 



3. BLI'TUM, Tournef. ELITE. 

 [The ancient Greek and Latin name of some pot-herb.] 



Caylx 3 - 5-parted, either unchanged or (in the species here noticed) be- 

 coming berry-like in fruit, not appendaged. Stamens 1 - 5 ; filaments 

 filiform. Styles, or stigmas, 2. Seed vertical, compressed globular ; 

 the embryo coiled into a ring quite around the albumen. Hersb with 

 petioled triangular, or halberd-shaped, and mostly sinuate-toothed leaves. 



1. B. capita'tum, L. Stem ascending, branching ; leaves triangular- 

 hastate, acute, sinuately toothed ; flowers interruptedly spiked ; calyx 

 pulpy and bright-red in fruit. 

 CLUSTERED BLITUM. Strawberry Blite. 



Annual. Stem about a foot long, diffusely branched. Flowers in dense roundish clusters 

 which are collected towards the summit of the branches. 



On recently turned grounds and dry places, especially westward. June. Also a native 

 of Europe. 



Obs. We are not informed whether this is a troublesome weed, but as it 

 is rather common in some places, and as it must, from the strawberry-like 

 appearance of its ripe fruit, attract the notice of the observing farmer, 

 we give it a place. 



4. SPIN A' CIA, Tournef. SPINACH. 

 [Latin, Spina, a thorn ; the covering of the fruit being often prickly.] 



FLOWERS DICECIOUS : STAM. FL. Calyx 4 -5-parted, the lobes equal. 

 PISTILLATE FL. Calyx ventricose-tubular, 2 - 3-toothed. Ovary ovoid ; 

 styles 4, elongated, filiform. Akene included in the turgid indurated 

 calyx, which is often 2 - 3-horned on the back. Seed vertical, compress- 

 ed ; embryo annular, surrounding the farinaceous albumen* Herbaceous : 

 flowers axillary, glomerate, the staminate ones in racemose-paniculate 

 clusters. 



1. S. OLERA'CEA, Miller. Leaves petiolate, hastate-lanceolate, often in- 

 cised at base, or sagittate and entire. 

 POT-HERB SPINACIA. Spinach, or Spinage. 



