CLASS V. ORBER II. J CHENOPODIUM. 423 



lateral spikes, intermixed with small lanceolate toothed or simple 

 leaves. Perianth very small, of five ovate scarcely acute segments. 

 Stamens with slender filaments, longer than the perianth, with small 

 two lobed anthers. Fruit very small, like grains of sand, surrounded 

 by the dried perianth. Seed smooth, shining, enveloped in a very thin 

 pale membrane. 



Habitat. — Dunghills, under walls, and waste places ; not uncommon. 



Annual ; flowering in August and September. 



In drying, the alkaline salt contained in the juices of the plant 

 crystalizes with a white frosted appearance upon the stem and petioles. 

 The flowers on the lateral parts of the spikes are fre(juently with seg- 

 ments only having three divisions, and also with only three stamens, 

 while those on the top and upper parts have five segments and 

 stamens. 



8. C. (jlau'cum, Linn. (Fig. 485.) Oak-leaved Gooscfoot. Leaves 

 ovate-oblong, obtuse, or oblong, with the margin distantly toothed, 

 somewhat hastate, glaucous and mealy beneath; spikes compound, 

 leafless; seeds minutely dotted. 



English Botany, t. 1454. — English Flora, vol. ii. p, 14. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 143. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 215. — Bliluni 

 (jlaucum, Koch. 



Root flbrous. Stem from a few inches to two feet long, mostly 

 prostrate, simple or branched, spreading, stout, furrowed, leafy. 

 Leaves alternate, on short stout channeled footstalks, oblong, with an 

 acute point, or oblong-ovate, obtuse, the margin distantly toothed, 

 with two teeth larger than the others near the base, a glaucous green 

 above, sometimes purplish, white and mealy beneath. Floicers small, 

 in dense close clustered branched spikes, both terminal and lateral, 

 leafless, or with two or three leaves at the base. Perianth of Ave 

 small smooth obtuse segments. Stamens with short filaments and 

 yellow two lobed anthers. Styles very short. Fruit roundish, flat- 

 ened, covered with a thin membrane, and crowned by the persistent 

 styles. Seeds smooth, shining, purplish black, very minutely dotted. 



Habitat. — Waste ground, especially on a sandy soil; about London, 

 and apparently not very common elsewhere. 



Annual ; flowering in August. 



9. C. Botry'odcs, Sm. (Fig. 486.) Many spiked Goosefoot. Leaves 

 triangular, somewhat toothed, slightly lengthened at the base on the 

 petiole ; spikes erect, compound, and leafy ; seed small, shining. 



English Botany, t. 2247. — English Flora, vol. ii. p. 11. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 142. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 215. 



Root flbrous. Stem spreading, or prostrate, mostly branched from 

 the base, slightly angular, furrowed, smooth, leafy, of a greenish purple 

 colour. Leaves ou short footstalks, rather small, triangular, with an 



