POKEWEED FAMILY 75 



the upper ones of staminate flowers in long slender spikes, the axil- 

 lary ones globular, composed of pistillate flowers. Bracts lance-awl- 



A B a 



Fig. 16. Prince's feather (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) 



A, staminate flower; B, pistillate flower; C, fruit. (AH magnified.) 

 (After Schnizlein) 



shaped about the length of the 5 sepals. In waste ground, fields, and 

 gardens. Naturalized from, tropical America. 



A. retroflexus L. and A. hybridus L., usually known as pigweed, 

 are common autumn-flowering weeds. 



28. PHYTOLACCACEjE. Pokeweed Family 



Plants with alternate entire leaves. Flowers bisexual, 5- 

 parted, with the characters of the Goosefoot Family, but the 

 ovary generally consisting of several carpels, which unite to 

 form a berry. 



PHYTOLACCA L. 



Perennial herbs. Stems tall, branching. Leaves large, 

 entire. Flowers small, in terminal racemes, pedicels bracted. 

 Calyx of 4-5 nearly equal, persistent sepals. Stamens 5-15, 

 inserted at the base of the calyx. Styles 5-32, recurved at 

 the apex. Fruit a depressed-globose, juicy berry.* 



1. P. decandra L. Pokeweed. Stems erect, smooth, branched 

 above, usually dark purple, 4-7 ft. tall ; root large, fleshy, poisonous. 

 Leaves ovate-lanceolate, smooth, acute, long-petioled. Racemes pe- 

 duncled, many-flowered, opposite the leaves ; flowers white, becoming 

 purplish. Stamens 10, shorter than the sepals. Styles 10, carpels 10. 



