CL^ XXIII.] 35. ATRIPLEX PATULA. 445 



point are projecting teeth, and sinuses between them. The lat- 

 ter disappear in the up]5erniost leaves, which are hence simply 

 hastate, and very small. Tlie frequently red coloured flow- 

 ers are in fasciculi or glomeruli, which form spikes at in- 

 tervals, and are separated by leaves. The flowers are partly 

 male, partly herma})hrodite, partly female. The two former 

 consist merely of a quinque-partite calyx, with five filaments, 

 and the same number of yellow bilocular anthera?. The her- 

 maphrodite and the female flowers have two linear pistils. 

 The calyx of the female flowers consists of two thick leaflets, 

 which are triangular, have long projecting points, dentated 

 margins, and herbaceous waily spines on the surface. This 

 calyx also is covered with whitish scales. Between these 

 elastic leaflets of the calyx, lies the fruit, a caryopse, which 

 contains the evolved, bent embryon around its circumference, 

 and in its centre the remainder of the albuminous matter. 



Diagnosis and Affinity. 



This species has the nearest affinity to A. angustifolia Smith, 

 with which it has also been frequently confounded. But the 

 angustifolia is much more common in central Germany, grows 

 every where by the road side, is much taller, has not the 

 reddish colour nor the crowded stem, but has its branches at 

 a distance from each other. Fewer scales are observable, and 

 the lowermost leaves only are hastate, those farther up being 

 lanceolate and quite entire. The leaflets of the calyx are 

 nearly smooth, at least they have only some small bunches on 

 the margin. 



A. hastata L. is also frequently confounded with our species. 

 This indeed has similar leaves, but the leaflets of the calyx 

 are intersected by reticular veins, and have bristly teeth. 

 A. laciniata L. is less nearly related : it grows only by the 

 sea-shore, and is entirely covered ^vith white and red spots ; 

 the stem lies low ; the leaves are more oblong, sinuated, and 

 dentated; the leaflets of the calyx are enlarged, and have 

 strong warty bunches. A. nitens Schk. has similar leaves, 

 but it grows much taller, and has quite smooth, and entire ca- 

 lyx leaflets. 



