66 Flora of the Palonse Region 



98. SALSOLA. 



Annual or perennial bushy-branched herbs: leaves rigid, subu- 

 late, prickle-pointed: flowers sessile, perfect, 2-bracteolate, solitary 

 in the axils, or sometimes several together: calyx 5-parted: sta- 

 mens 5: utricle flattened, enclosed by the calyx, the segments of 

 which are appendaged by a broad membranous horizontal wing in 

 fruit: endosperm none. 



S. kali var. tragus Moq. Much branched from the base, forming hem- 

 ispherical plants 30-90 cm., or more in diameter: branches striate, often red- 

 dish below: leaves linear, bluish-green, sessile, tipped with a sharp point, 

 fleshy at first but becoming dry and stiff, 1-3 cm. long: wings of the calyx 

 persistent, membranous. This is the notorious Russian Thistle. One speci- 

 men was found within our limits in 1898. 



Family 26. AMARANTACEAE. 



Herbs (in ours): leaves thin, simple, mostly entire, alternate or 

 opposite: flowers, small, green or white, perfect, monoecious, 

 polygamous or dioecious, bracteolate, usually in terminal spikes 

 or axillary heads: calyx herbaceous or membranous, 2-5-parted, 

 the segments distinct or united at the base, equal, or the inner 

 ones smaller: petals none: stamens 1-5, mostly opposite the calyx- 

 segments, hypogynous: ovary i-celled; ovule 1 (in ours): fruit a 

 utricle, 1 -seeded (in ours): endosperm mealy, usually copious. 



99. AMARANTUS. 



Annual branched erector diffusely spreading, glabrous or pubes- 

 cent herbs: leaves alternate, petioled, pinnately veined, entire, 

 undulate or crisped: flowers small, green or purplish, mostly 

 3-bracteolate, in dense terminal spikes or axillary clusters: calyx 

 of 2-5 distinct sepals: stamens 2-5: fruit an ovoid or oblong 

 utricle, 2-3-beaked with the persistent style. Mostly pernicious 

 weeds. 



Flowers in dense terminal or axillary spikes. A. retroklexus. 

 Flowers in short axillary clusters. 



Flant erect. A. graecizans. 



Plant prostrate. A. bi.iToides. 



A. retroflexus L. Stem stout, .5-2 in. tall, erect, pubescent, simple or 

 branched: leaves ovate or rhombic-ovate, acute or obtuse, obscurely crenate 

 or entire, minutely roughened, 3-10 cm. long, slender- petioled: spikes very 

 dense, cylindric, erect, in large panicles: bracts subulate, 4-5 mm. long: 

 sepals 5, oblong, acute, obtuse or emarginate. A weed in waste ground. 



A. graecizans L. Erect, pale green, much branched, glabrous or nearly 

 so, 15-60 cm. tall: leaves oblong or narrowly obovate, obtuse or emarginate, 

 2-3 cm. long, short petioled: flowers in small axillary clusters: bracts subu- 



