CVII1. AMARANTHACE^E. 471 



clusters. A common garden weed, 1 2f high, simple or branched. Leaves 

 entire, varying from oval to obovate, emarginate, with a mucronate point, 

 tapering to a petiole which is nearly as long as the blade, those upon the 

 branches very small. Flowers inconspicuous, pale green, accompanied with 

 numerous, setaceous-pointed bracts. July. 



2. A. BLITUM. Low Amaranth. 



St. diffusely branched and spreading ; IDS. orate, long-petiolate, obtuse or 

 abruptly decurrent at base, entire, lower ones retuse, upper oDtuse or acute ; fls. 

 in sjiort, axillary, spicate clusters, shorter than the petioles. A weed naturalized 

 in waste places. Stem mostly prostrate and spreading. Leaves as long as the 

 petioles, f J as wide. $ 



3. A. OLERACEUS. Pt.t Amaranth. 



Lvs. rugose, oblong, very obtuse, emarginate; clusters axillary, branching; 

 fls. sometimes pentandrous. Fields and waste places, Mass, to Penn. Stem 

 18 24' high. July. 



* * Flowers pentandrous. 



4. A. HYBRIDUS. Hybrid Amaranth. 



St. furrowed, erect; Ivs. ovate-lanceolate; roc. pentandrous, decompound 

 crowded, erect. A common weed in waste and cultivated grounds, N. Eng. to 

 Miss. Stem 3f high, or more, leaves alternate, long-stalked, mostly entire, ob- 

 tuse, emarginate, mucronate, the lowest ones retuse. Flowers minute, in large, 

 green, oblong spikes becoming at length a dull red, axillary and terminal. 



5. A. PUMILUS. Nutt. Dwarf Amaranth. 



Lvs. ovate, obtuse, smooth and fleshy, often retuse ; clusters axillary ; fls. 

 pentandrous ; cat. 5-leaved, concave'. Sandy sea shores, N. Y. Stem 8 12' 

 high, often decumbent. Flowers green, obscure. ' - m 



6. A. RETROFLEXUS. 



Lvs. ovate, undulate ; branches downy ; roc. pentandrous, triply compound, 

 compact, erect. Waste grounds, among rubbish, N. Y. to Va. StemS'f high. Aug. 



7. A. SPINOSUS. Spiny Amaranth. 



St. glabrous, much branched; Ivs. ovate-lanceolate, with two stipular 

 spines at base of the petioles ; As. in compound, terminal and axillary spikes. 

 In cultivated grounds and roadsides. Middle States. A vile weed, 2f or more 

 high, readily known by its stipular spines. Aug. 



8. A. HYPOCHONDRIACUS. Prince's Feather. 



Lvs. oblong, lanceolate, mucronate ; roc. pentandrous, compound, com- 

 pact, erect. This species is native in the Middle States, and cultivated often as 

 a garden annual. The whole plant is dark red, 3 4f high, with long, plume- 

 like clusters, f 



9. A. MELANCHOLICUS. Love-lies-bleeding. Lvs. ovate-lanceolate, colored; 

 roc. axillary, peduncled, roundish. (D From India. The whole plant purple, 

 18' high, f Several other species are rarely cultivated. 



2. IRESlNE. 



Gr. eipecriuvr]. an olive branch hound with tufts of wool, borne by suppliants ; from the resemblance. 



Flowers cf 9 cT Calyx deeply 5 7-parted, subtended by 2 bracts ; 

 scales or nectaries (petals?) 5 or 7. 9 Stigmas 2, sessile ; capsule at 

 length tomentose, many-seeded. Mostly '4- Lvs. opposite, entire, 

 Fls. paniculate, axillary and terminal. 



I. CELOSIOlDES. 



St. erect, furrowed, paniculate above ; Ivs. scabrous, punctate, lower ob- 

 long, acuminate, upper ovate-lanceolate ; panicle compound, large, rather dense. 

 A tall, handsome annual, 3 if high, on river banks, Ohio, near Cincinnati, 

 &c. Leaves tapering to the base into a winged petiole, 3 6' by 2 4'. Pani- 

 cle of whitish flowers large, with opposite branches, branchlets and pedicels, 

 nearly or quite leafless. Sept. Oct. 

 40* 



