278 16. CHENOPODE^. Plex.mon. 



below; plumula scarcely visible. — Herbs or undershrubs ; 

 leaves alternate, rarely opposite ; stipulcB or sheaths none ; 

 fiowers small, greenish, rarely unisexual. 



Stamens \ or 2. 



Ferigonium not cut ; utrladus membra- 

 naceous Salicornia. 46. 



Ferigonium S-^QXied', idriculus ^e^hy .... Blitum. 40. 



Stamens 5; perigonium not enlarging after flowering. 



Utriculus half-adherent Beta. 41. 



Utriculus free Chenopodium. 44. 



Stamens 3 ; perigonium enlarging after flowering. 



Spermodermis double ; 

 perigonium 3 or 4-cut Spinachia. 42. 



Spermodermis double ; 

 perigonium in female flowers 2-leaved, 

 compressed Atriplex. 43. 



Spermodermis simple ; 

 seed horizontal ; corculum snail-like Salsola. 45. 



I. 40. BLITUM. Theophrastus. Elite. 



Ferigonium 3-cut, coloured ; stamen 1 ; ovary above ; 

 styles 2; utriculus fleshy; seed lenticular; spermodermis 

 double, the outer crustaceous ; corculum annular. — Flowers 

 glomerate ; yrz«7 like a strawberry, axillary or terminal. 



Blitum virgatum. 

 Heads spread, lateral. 

 Blitum virgatum, Lin. S. P. 7. 



Dunghills, but scarcely a native ; annual ; July. 



II. 41. BETA. Pliny. Beet. 



Ferigonium 3-parted, slightly adherent at bottom to the 

 ovary ; stamens 5 ; styles 2 ; utriculus depressed, immersed 

 in the perigonium ; seed horizontal ; spermodermis double, 

 the outer coriaceous ; corculum annular. — Root fusiform, 

 fleshy ; stem furrowed ; glomendes 2 to 4-flowered, sessile, 

 axillary ; bractece 2 or 3 to each flower. 



