94 FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 
sons, is the product of Fagopyrum Fagopyrum, a member of this family, 
illustrated in Fig. 76. The plant, originally a native of Asia, is grown 
extensively in some parts of the United States 
and on the continent of Europe, whence it 
has escaped frequently and become estab- 
lished in a half-wild state. Buckwheat flour, 
although less nutritious than wheat, is greatly 
superior in this respect to rice. Another 
polygonaceous food-plant of considerable im- 
portance is the rhubarb (Rheum Rhaponti- 
cum). As we are familiar with it in gardens, 
it is a tall herb with enormous basal leaves, 
whose thick juicy stems furnish a most appe- 
tizing sauce, and filling for pies. Like Ru- 
mex, it contains a very powerful acid prin- 
ciple, upon which its value as an article of 
food chiefly depends. The genus Rhewm is 
native of eastern Europe and Asia, several of 
ee ee ee the species being described by travelers as 
buckwheat (Fugopyrum Fagopy- very imposing features of the landscape, par- 
rum), with enlarged fower and ticularly in dry waste regions of the Hima- 
ruit. Original. 
layas. 
There are several ornamental plants of the family, the most famil- 
iar in greenhouses being the vine Antigonon 
leptopus, the large inflated calyces of which are | 
bright red in color, and retain their beauty on eu pet 
the plant for some time. Brunnichia, a native Ws” 
shrubby vine of the southern States is also 
worthy of cultivation, although the flowers are 
not brilliantly colored. The prince’s feather 
(Polygonum orientale) is a favorite in gardens. 
Family Chenopodiaceae. Goosefoot Fam- 
ily. Contains about 75 genera and 550 species, 
of wide geographic distribution. The goose- 
foots, or pigweeds, as they are often called, are 
herbs or rarely shrubs, having simple leaves 
entirely without stipules. The flowers are per- 
fect or bisexual, usually greenish in color, vari- : 
ously clustered. The perianth consists only of Fig. 77. ieee ine Oe 
a calyx, which is persistent, investing the fruit. oe pe eels of fruit 
The latter is known as a utricle, being a Ress ee pele? pera aa 
grain with several enveloping papery coatings. showing the circumscissile utri- 
‘ : % +7, Cle; lowermost line, fower and 
The two uppermost drawings in Fig. 77 will fruit of Phylolacca, Original. ., 
