CHENOPODIACEiE. 441 



V. BEET. BETA. 



Inflorescence and flowers of Goosefoot, esce)Dt that each flower has 3 

 small bracts at its base, and that the ovary and seed are immersed in the 

 succulent base of the perianth, which thickens and hardens as it ripens, be- 

 coming angular, and often toothed or prickly. 



The species are very few, extending along the coasts of Europe, western 

 Asia, and Africa. 



1. Common Beet. Beta maritima, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 285.) 



The wild Beet has a short, hard stock of a few years' duration, with erect 

 or spreading branched stems about 2 feet high. Lower leaves large, broad, 

 rather think, and green, the upjjer ones small and narrow. Flowers green 

 like those of a Goosefoot, single or clustered, in long, loose terminal spikes, 

 often branching into a leafy panicle. The ripe periantli forms a hard, 

 angular, often prickly mass, enclosing a single horizontal seed like that of a 

 Ooosefoot. 



On rocks, and in muddy sands by the sea-shore, in Europe, western Asia, 

 and northern Africa, extending northwards to the Baltic. Not uncommon 

 on the British coasts. Fl. summer and autumn. The white and red Beets 

 or Beetroot of our gardeners, and the Mangel Wurzel [Root of Scarcity) of 

 our agriculturists, are cultivated varieties of this species. 



VI. ORACHE. ATEIPLEX. 



Herbs or undershrubs, often covered with a grey or white, scaly meal ; 

 the leaves flat and alternate, or the lower ones rarely opposite. Flowei'S 

 small and numerous, clustered in axillary spikes or terminal panicles as in 

 Goosefoot, but always of two kinds ; in some, which are usually males only, 

 the perianth is regular and 5-cleft as in Ooosefoot, with 5 stamens ; in the 

 females the perianth consists of two flat segments (or rather, bracts replacing 

 the real perianth), either free or more or less united at the edges, enclosing 

 the ovary. After flowering this false perianth enlarges, is often toothed at 

 the edge, and covered with wart-like exci-escences. Seed usually vertical. In 

 some species there are also a few regular female real perianths, which ripen 

 without enlarging, and contain a horizontal seed, as in Goosefoot. Em- 

 bryo curved round the albumen. 



A considerable genus, widely spread over the maritime or saline districts 

 of the globe, scarcely any species besides the common one being ever found 

 inland, or away from the saline influence. 



Segments of the fruiting perianth united nearly to the top. Leaves all 

 entire and mealy-white. 

 Perennial, or shrubby at the base. Fruiting perianth sessile ... 1. Purslane O, 



Annual. Fruiting perianth distinctly stalked 2. Stalked O. 



Segments of the fruiting perianth not united above the middle. An- 

 nuals. Leaves either toothed or hastate, or, if entire, narrow and 

 green. 

 Segments of the fruiting perianth thin, and quite free. Plant of 4 or 



5 feet 3. Garden O. 



Segments of the fruiting perianth thickish, and partially united. Plant 

 not above 3 feet, erect or procumbent. 

 Floral leaves nearly sessile. Fruiting perianths mostly axillary, white 



and scaly 5. Frosted O, 



Leaves almost all stalked. Fruiting perianths mostly mixed with 



the male flowers, green or slightly mealy 4. Common O. 



