ClIEXOl'ODIUM — GOOSKFOOT, I'Ki WKKI). 'J.'^.") 



CHENOPODIACE^. 



Cliaractcr nf the Order. — ("liidly licrbH, r.-ircly undoralirubs, with mostly 

 ultonuitc, oxHtipiiliitc leaves. {'aly\ deeply tlivided, snmetiiiics tiilmlnrat 

 the base, persistent, coiiinioiily eiiclosiii;.;' the Iniil. Stuineiis ^-eiiei'ully of 

 tiie sanio nuiuher as the lobes of the calyx, and inserted o])i)osite them or 

 on their base. Ovary free, l-eellod, with a sinj^dc; ovule attaclied tn its 

 base ; styles or stigmas 2, rarely IJ to 5, Fruit a thin utriele, i-arely an 

 aehenimn. 



A larjjje order, comprisimj many common weeds, and a few plants, as 

 the beet, spinach, and chonopodiuni of eccjuomic importance. 



CIIEXOPOniUM.— GOOHKKOOT, Picwkkd. 



('hnradcr of llir (icini^. — C;i]y\ 5-cleft, rarely 2- to 4-cleft or parted, 

 more or less envolopinfjf the fruit. Stamens commonly 5. Stylos 2, rarely 

 ;{. SetTd roimd, llalteiied. 



Coarse, weedy plants, usually somewhat succulent, and with a white 

 mealiness, or viscid glandular. Flowers small, greenish, numerous, sessile, 

 in clusters collected in terminal spikes. 



Chenopodium ambrosioides Luiuu (Var. Anthelminticum 

 (Iray). — Wormnecd. 



Ih'scrqdioii. — Flowers mostly in leafless spikes. Stem erect, angular, 

 sparingly branched, 1 to 8 feet high. Leaves ovatc.-oblong, acute, nar- 

 rowed at the base, petiolate, deeply sinuatt; scrrat(>, tlie lower sometimes 

 almost laciniate, pinnatifid, thin, smoothish, destitute of mealiness, glandu- 

 lar beneath, bright green. Tiie whole plant has a strongly aromatic 

 odor. 



Habitat. — Introduced from Tropicial America ; common southward, in 

 waste places. 



Chenopodium album Jjhnn''. — 7 'igwccd, Lamb's (^)nartcrff. 



DeHcription. — Flowers in dense or loose, nearly leafless racemes. 

 Stem ei'ect, sulcate-striate, loosely branched, 1 to 5 feet high. Leaves 

 varying from rhombic-ovate to lanceolate or linear above, all or only the 

 lower more or less sinuate-toothed, mostly with a pale mealiness. A very 

 variable species. 



Habitat. — A very common weed in cultivated grounds and about farm 

 buildings. 



Of these two species the first is introduced on account of its medicinal 

 importance, and the second because it typifies a number of closely reLited 

 species of common weeds, diSeriug from the official plant in being mealy 

 instead of viscid glandular. 



J*art Used. — The fruit of C. ambrosioides Linn6, var. anthelminticum 

 Gray. Official name : Chenopodium — United States Pharmacopoeia. 



