418 CHENOPODIUM. L^lass v. okder ii. 



with a small inflexed point, the outer ones of the radiant flowers miicli 

 larger than the others, and deeply cleft Stamens with slender Jila- 

 menis and ohlong anthers. Styles elongating after flowering, slender, 

 spreading. Stigmas small, capitate. Disk somewhat conical. Fruit 

 globose, quite smooth. 



Habitat. — Fields and waste places, especially in the South of 

 England ; naturalized. 



Annual ; flowering in Jane. 



This is the only known species of the genus ; it is found in various 

 places, but not really wild. It is well known as affording warm 

 aromatic seeds, and was formerly cultivated ; hence it has escaped, 

 and is now naturalized. The whole plant in a fresh state has a dis- 

 agreeable odour, but the dried ripe seeds have a gi-ateful smell, are 

 aromatic and carminative, with a degree of pungency, and are used in 

 compounding some medicines to cover their less agreeable taste and 

 unpleasant effects. They are used in making some kinds of sweet 

 bread, confectionery, and pastry, and also as a condiment in various 

 ways in the South of Europe ; while in Peru we are informed by 

 Feuillee, they are used to an unpleasant excess in almost all their 

 dishes. 



GENUS LXXXIX. CHENOPO'DIUM.— Linn. Goosefoot. 



Nat. Ord. Chenopo'de^. Vent. 



Gen. Char. Perianth single, inferior, five-cleft, persistent, and un- 

 altered, closing over the fruit. Fruit a thin depressed utricle, 

 containing a single polished seed. — Named from y^Yiv, %»ivoj, 

 a Goose ; and 'tcovc, 2, foot ; from the shape of the leaves, of some 

 species, resembling a goose's foot. 



* Leaves semi-cylindrical ; Jlowers with hracteas. 

 1. C.frut'icosum, Schrad. (Fig. 477.) Shrubby Sea-side Goosefoot. 

 Stem shrubby ; leaves semi-cylindrical, acute ; flowers in the axis of 

 the leaves, of five fleshy acute segments ; seeds smooth. 



Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 141.— Lindley, Synopsis, p. 216.— 

 Salsola fruticosa, Linn. — English Botany, t. 635. — English Flora, 

 vol. ii. p. 18. 



A small bushy shrub, about three feet high, erect, with numerous 

 slender branches, very leafy, the bark pale, striated. Leaves arising 

 on all sides, succulent, semi-cylindrical, smooth, with an acute point, 

 a somewhat glaucous green, sessile. Flowers small, sessile, one, two, 

 or three together in the axis of the leaves, each having two or three 

 lanceolate pale membranous bractea at the base ; the perianth of fire 



