442 THE GOOSEFOOT FAMILY. 



The sTiruhhy O. {A. Halimus), from the shores of the Mediterranean, is 

 often cultivated in gardens, especially near the seacoast. 



1. Purslane Orache. Atriplex portulacoides, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 261. Sea Purslane. Lesser Shnihhi/ Orache.) 



A low, straggling, much branched shrub or undershrub, often shortly 

 creeping, and rooting at the base, 1 to 1^ feet high, covered with a grey 

 scaliness closer than in other Oraches. Leaves obovate or oblong, tapering 

 at the base, or the upper ones hnear, seldom above an inch long, and always 

 entire. Flowers in short, interrupted spikes, forming a terminal panicle. 

 Fruiting perianth small and thick, triangular or nearly orbicular; the seg- 

 ments united very nearly to the top, where tliey are more or less toothed. 



On the seacoasts of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, extending 

 northwards to the Baltic. Common on the shores of the greater part of 

 England and Ireland, but rare in Scotland. Fl. autumn. 



2. Stalked Orache. Atriplex pednnculata, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 232.) 



Resembles the Purslane O. in its entire, thickish leaves, scaly-white on 

 both sides, but is an annual only, with spreading branches, seldom a foot 

 high ; the leaves usually broader, the lower ones ovate or obovate. Fruiting 

 perianth always borne on a pedicel of 2 or 3 lines ; the segments wedge- 

 shaped, united to the top, where the two angles often project into little 

 recurved points. 



In the sahne districts of central and south Russian Asia, on the shores of 

 the Black Sea, the Baltic, and the North Sea, as far west as Belgium, but 

 apparently absent from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coasts. In 

 Britain, only on the eastern shores of England. Fl. summer and autumn. 



3. Garden Oraclie. Atriplex hortensis, Linn. 

 {A. nitens, Brit. Fl.) 



An erect, stout annual, attaining 4 or 5 feet in height. Leaves broadly tri- 

 angular, cordate or hastate, or the upper ones narrow, green or sUghtly white 

 and mealy underneath. Flowers very numerous and crowded, in a long, 

 terminal, leafy panicle. Fruiting perianths of 2 broad, flat segments, distinct 

 nearly from the base, 3 or 4 lines long, quite entire, thin and net-veined, closely 

 clasping the flat vertical seed : intermixed with them are also several small, 

 regular, 5-cleft perianths, half-closed over a horizontal seed as in the Goose' 

 foots. 



Of east European or west Asiatic origin, but has long been cultivated in 

 kitchen-gardens, and was formerly much used as spinage, and has esta- 

 blished itself as an escape from cultivation in several parts of Europe. In 

 Britain, said to be tolerably abundant on the seacoast near Ryde, in the 

 Isle of Wight. Fl. end of summer, and autumn. The Ryde specimens are 

 much nearer to the common garden fonn than to the east European wild 

 variety often distinguished under the name of A. nitens. 



4. Common Orache. Atriplex patula, Linn. 



A most variable plant in stature, in the shape of the leaf, and in the 

 fruiting perianth. It is an annual, erect or prostrate, dark or pale green, 

 or more or less mealy-white, but never so thickly frosted or scaly a* the 

 frosted 0. Leaves all stalked ; the lower ones usually hastate and some- 



