THE GOOSEFOOT TRIBE. 145 



(Echinus). All this pretty show belongs to the calyx, 

 which finally unfolds into five, spreading, pale gi'een 

 lobes (Jig. 3.), with a white pearly border. There are 

 no traces of petals. The stamens are five, slightly 

 adhering by their bases into a very shallow cup, and 

 placed opposite the divisions of the calyx. The ovary 

 (fig. 4.) is roundish, superior, with two long hairy 

 stignias, it is one-celled, and contains a single ovule, 

 attached to the bottom of the cell by an oblique cord 

 (Jig. 5.). The seed-vessel is a thin semi-transparent 

 bag, which breaks irregularly when ripe, and drops a 

 single jet-black flattish seed (Jig. ().), containing an 

 embryo, curved round mealy albumen, and pointing 

 its radicle to the hilum (Jig. J.). 



In general, plants of the Goosefoot Tribe are so 

 similar to this in structure, as to give the student no 

 trouble in identifHing them ; some, for example, have 

 the stamens in one flower, and the pistil in another, 

 as Spinage ; others have the base of the calyx hardened 

 and partially adhering to the ovary, as Beet ; but such 

 differences are no greater than occur in all natural orders. 

 There is, however, a wild plant belonging to the Goose- 

 foot Tribe, which is so curious in its appearance, as to 

 deserve particular mention. It is often brought, fi'om 

 the salt-marshes where it grows, to market, under the 

 erroneous name of Samphire,* and being prepared 

 with spice and vinegar, forms a coarse kind of pickle. 

 At first sight you would take this plant, whose real 



* The real Samphire is an Umbelliferous plant, found on the 

 chalky cliffs of our southern coast ; it is the Crithmum maritimum of 

 Botanists. 



VOL. 11. L 



