AMAKANTACK-E. 185 



mum; the stem 6 iiulR's to 2 feet long, generally more or less decum- 

 briit, lint soiiutiiiH's, ill suuiU spociiiic'us, erect or usci-iidiii;^. Lain'mu 

 oftlR- loaves 1 to .'i iiiclu's \on<i, usually shorter than the petiole, some- 

 what wedge-shaped towards the base. Uppermost glomerulcs witliout 

 leaves, BO as to ionn a leafless interrupted spike, with similar hut 

 shortrr spikes in the axils of tiie upper leaves. Seed erect, pitchy 

 black, hi;:hlv polished. IMant dull green, glalirous. 



The pericarp is certainly indehisreut in all the British specimens 

 1 have seen, but Smith siiys of it, " When ripe bursting uU round like 

 that of plantain." 



Wild Amaranth. 



French, Amaranlhe hlelte. German, gemeiiicr Amarant. 



EXCLUDED SPECIES. 



AMARANT US RETROFLEXUS. Linn. 



Has been found in waste ground at Hertford ; and at Sawbridge- 

 wi>rth, Herts. I have found it on the mud laid on Battersea fields 

 during their conversion into Battersea Park, but it has no claim to be 

 introduced into the British list, and indeed it would perhaps be better 

 to expunge A. Blitum. 



BB 



