> 
10 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
of the root or by seed: the latter is the most convenient plan; the fruit generally 
ripening in great abundance. It is abundant on the southern coast on a chalky soil : 
in the garden it will grow almost anywhere. In Ireland the leaves are often col- 
lected and eaten as food, but little use is made of the plant on our own shores. 
GENUS V—-CHENOPODIUM. Linn. 
Flowers perfect, or rarely polygamous. Calyx free from the ovary, 
of 5, more rarely of 3 or 4, sepals slightly united at the base. Stamens 
5, or fewer by abortion, inserted at the base of the calyx. Styles 2, 
more rarely 3, often united at the base. Fruit membranous, enveloped 
in the connivent calyx segments, which do not alter in fruit. Seed 
horizontal or more rarely vertical, lenticular, with a crustaceous testa; 
albumen farinaceous; embryo peripherical. 
Herbs of various habit, the leaves generally alternate, ovate or rhom- 
bic or triangular-rhombic. Flowers in glomerules collected into spikes, 
which are commonly arranged in panicles. 
The name of this genus of plants comes from the Greek words xjjv, a goose, and 
move, Toddc, a foot, from its supposed resemblance. 
Section I.—EU-CHENOPODIUM. Gren. and Godr. 
All the flowers 5-merous. Seeds all horizontal. 
SPECIES I—-CHENOPODIUM POLYSPERMUM. Lim. 
Pirates MCLXXXV. MCLXXXVI. 
Stem decumbent or erect, much branched. Leaves ovate or oval, 
entire, or rarely with a single lateral tooth on each side near the base, 
obtuse or acute. Flowers in minute glomerules or solitary, arranged 
in lax ascending-erect terminal and lateral spikes, or small spread- 
ing axillary forked cymes; the former leafy towards the base, the latter 
leafless ; spikes or cymes combined into long lax’ slender terminal 
panicles, which are leafy except the apex. Fruit calyx with the seg- 
ments not keeled, not nearly covering the fruit. Seeds all horizontal, 
minute, shining,* roughened with small points. Plant destitute of 
white meal. 
a 
* Tn examining the seeds of this genus, the tyro must be careful to rub off the 
investing pericarp, which gives a dim appearance to the seeds, even when they are 
really shining. 
