424 CHENOPODIDM. LCLASS V. ORDEB U. 



almost entire margin, more or less tapering at the base on the petiole, 

 the upper ones smaller, more blunt, at the angles becoming almost 

 lanceolate, paler on the under side, with a mid-rib, mostly of a purplish 

 colour, and slender branched veins. Floiuers small, in crowded oblong 

 clusters, more or less distant on the terminal and axillary somewhat 

 leafy spikes, of a gi-een purplish colour. Perianth of five oblong 

 slightly swelling segments. Stamens on slender ^/a?ne?i<s, longer than 

 the perianth. Anthers small, yellow. Styles very short, two spread- 

 ing. Fruit roundish, compressed. Seed small, black, and shining, 

 enclosed in a thin pale membrane, crowned by the persistent styles, 

 and enveloped with the dried perianth. 



Habitat. — Moist sandy places near the sea. Yarmouth, Norfolk. — 

 Mr. Wigg. Cliffs by the sea, at Lowestoft. — Sir J. E. Smith. Shore 

 at South Shoebury. — Mr. E. Forster. 



Annual ; flowering in August and September. 



This species is nearly allied to C. rubrum, but is much smaller, of a 

 more fleshy texture, and the margins of the leaves less toothed. It is 

 quite a different plant from the C. Botrys, of Linn., which is clothed 

 with glandular hairs, the leaves oblong, deeply sinuated, and obtusely 

 toothed, and is not a native of this country. 



10. C. mura'le, Linn. (Fig. 487.) Nettle-leaved Goosefoot. Leaves 

 ovate, approaching rhomboid, shining, acutely toothed ; flowers in 

 leafless much branched cymose spikes ; seeds grey, finely dotted, sur- 

 rounded with a carinated margin. 



English Botany, t. 1722. — English Flora, vol. ii. p. 11. — Hooker, 

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



Hoot fibrous. Stem erect, from one to three feet high, branched 

 from the base upwards with short spreading alternate branches, 

 roundish, smooth, striated, or somewhat furrowed, of a darkish 

 slightly glaucous green, often with a purplish hue, as well as the 

 branches. Leaves numerous, alternate, on rather long channeled foot- 

 stalks, ovate, approaching a rhomboid figure, with sharp irregular 

 hooked teeth, occasionally sinuated, the point generally long and at- 

 tenuated, paler and more glaucous on the under side, with three ribs 

 from the base, which are branched upwards. Flotvers in close small 

 clusters, of a palish green colour, arranged irregularly on slender much 

 branched and spreading cymose spihes, which are numerous, terminal 

 and axillary, leafless, each on a slender footstalk. Perianth of five 

 ovate obtuse green segments, with a mid-rib and a pale narrow white 

 membranous mai-gin. Stamens on slender filaments, longer than the 

 perianth, with yellow ovate anthers. Fruit roundish, much com- 

 pressed, partly enveloped in the dried perianth, which closely embraces 

 it. Seed greyish, finely dotted, roundish, much compressed, surrounded 

 with a carinated margin like a ring, and enclosed in a pale ihin 

 membrane. 



