AMAEANTACE^. 187 



forming an elongated narrow spifep. Calyx small and 

 bladder-like, its ' margin toothed. Stamens 1 or '2. — Salt 

 marshes, Atl. Prov. and N.W. 



2. S. muepona'ta, Bigel., has thick spikes and mucron- 

 ate-pointed scales. Stem turning red ■when old. — Atl. sea- 

 coast. 



SIIii'DA. Forskal. Sea Blue. 



S. llnea'ris, Moc^. {Suceda maritima, Grray.) (SeaBlite.) 

 A branching fleshy herb, with alternate, roundish, linear 

 leaves. Flowers perfect, sessile in the axils of leafy bracts 

 on slender branchlets. Sepals very thick. Stamens 6, with 

 anthers exserted. — Atl. Prov. 



8. SAX'SOL*, L. Saltwoht. 

 S. Ka'li, L. (Saltwoet.) Flowers perfect, sessile, with 

 two braotlets, single in axils of leaves. Calyx 5-parted. 

 enclosing the depressed fruit. Stamens 5. A branching 

 plant with alternate, awl-shaped, prickly-pointed leaves. — 

 Sandy sea-shore, and rapidly spreading westward. 



Order LXXVIL AMARANTA'CEiG. (Amaranth F.) 



Homely weeds, a good deal like the plants of the last 

 Order, but the flower-clusterr. are interspersed with dry and 

 chaff-like {sometimes coloured) persistent bracts, usually 3 to 

 each flower. 



Synopsis of tbe CSenera. 



1. Aniaran'tus. Flowers moncecious or polygamous, all with a calyx 



of 3 or 6 distinct erect sepals. 



2. Monte'Ua. Flowers dicecious ; calyx none in the pistillate ilowers. 



1. AMARAST'TUS, Team. Amaranth. 



1. A. panieula'tUS, L. Reddish flowers in terminal and 

 axillary slender spikes, the bracts awn-pointed. — In the 

 neighbourhood of gardens. 



2. A. retPOflex'US, L. (Pigweed.) Mowers greenish, in 

 spikes, forming a stiff panicle. Leaves a dull green, long- 

 petioled, ovate, wavy-margined. Stem erect, — Common in 

 cultivated soil. 



