CLASS XX1. ORDER V,] AMARANTHUS. 1197 
receptacle paleaceous, florets numerous, each a single clavate 
perianth, with five short lobes, containing numerous stamens and 
two abortive stigmas. erlile flowers two, inclosed in a single 
prickly involucre, with two beaks, perianth wanting. Stigmas 
two, protruding through the small apertures within the beak. 
Fruit compressed, each occupying a cell within the hardened 
involucre.—Name from a»$os, yellow ; in allusion to the yellow 
colour of the infusion of the plant, which is asserted by 
Dioscorides to be communicated to the hair. 
1. X. strumar'ium, Linn. (Fig. 1454.) Broad leaved Bur-weed. 
Stem unarmed, the lower leaves heart-shaped, three lobed, and 
toothed; fruit with a straight beak; prickles of the involucre hooked. 
English Botany, t. 2544.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 136.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 8346.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 151. 
Root fibrous. Stem erect, branched, from one to two feet high, 
furrowed, downy, leafy. Leaves downy, heart-shaped, three lobed, 
toothed, and serrated, a pale rather sickly looking green, paler be- 
neath, elevated on a rather long footstalk, three branched at the base 
of the leaf. Inflorescence axillary and terminal. Barren flowers in 
dense globose clusters, several on a common stalk, the perianth 
green, nearly sessile, tubular or club-shaped, erect, containing five 
stamens, with rather large anthers. eriile flowers mostly several, all 
nearly sessile, involucre united to the germens, except towards the 
top. Fruit of two cells, each cell single seeded 
Habitat.—W aste places about dunghills in the South of England, 
and about Kerry, Ireland; but rare. 
Annual; flowering in August and September. 
This is a doubtful native plant, but has become naturalised. The 
genus is not remarkable for any useful properties that they possess, 
but are curious as being allied to or doubtful plants of the same Order 
Composite. Their most obvious difference is in the stamens and 
pistils being in separate flowers, but otherwise its affinity to Com- 
posite is such as to be united with them by many Botanists, though 
they form the Order Ambrosiacee, Link.; and Dr. Koch follows his 
arrangement. It is a frequent plant on the Continent, and in Italy 
X. spinosum, Linn., is common on the road sides almost every- 
where. It is readily known by its entire three lobed leaves and 
the trifid spines with which it is armed. 
GENUS XIV. AMARAN’THUS.—Linn. Amaranth, 
Nat. Ord. AMARANTHA'CEX. JUSS. 
GEN. Cuar. Barren flowers with a single perianth, deeply three or 
five-cleft. Stamens three to five. Fertile flowers with the 
