CLASSIFICATION OF ANGIOSPERMS. 265 



Atriplex as well as genera of the Chenopodiaceae yields soda. 

 The seeds of several species are edible, as of Chenopodium viride 

 of Europe and Asia, C. Quinoa of Chile, etc. Seeds of Spinacia 

 tetrandra of the Orient are used in bread-making. 



A number of species are used as garden vegetables, as spinach 

 (Spinacia oleracea) (Fig. 121, C) and beet (Beta vulgaris). 



The SUGAR BEET (Beta vulgaris Rapa) which contains from 

 4 to 15 per cent, of cane sugar (sucrose) is largely cultivated in 

 Germany, as well as to some extent in the United States, and is 

 an important source of cane sugar. While the juice of the beet 

 contains a larger amount of nitrogenous substances than the sugar 

 cane it is practically free from invert sugar. 



b. AMARANTACE^.— The plants are weed-like and much 

 resemble the Chenopodiaceae. They yield anthelmintic principles, 

 edible seeds, and the leaves of a number of species are used as 

 vegetables. The ash yielded by some species contains potash, as 

 Achyranthes aspera and Amaranthus ruber. Some are orna- 

 mental plants having a fasciated inflorescence, as the Cock's- 

 comb (Celosia cristata). 



c. NYCTAGINACEJi; OR FOUR-O'CLOCK FAMILY.— 

 The plants are mostly herbs growing in America. The leaves are 

 entire and simple, and the flowers are regular and in terminal or 

 axillary clusters. The perianth consists of a 4- to 5-lobed corolla- 

 like calyx. The most common representative of this family is the 

 Marvel-of-Peru or four-o'clock (Mirabilis Jalapa). While this 

 plant is an annual in the United States, in the Tropics the tuberous 

 root is used as a substitute for jalap, and is sometimes sold for it. 

 The seeds of this plant are edible, as are also the leaves of several 

 species, as of Bcerhavia erecta, which are used as green vegetables. 

 Some members of the group, as Bougainvillea spectabilis, are 

 handsome plants with bright rose-colored bracts which envelop 

 the small greenish flowers. 



d. PHYTOLACCACE^.— The plants of this family are most- 

 ly tropical and are represented in this region by only one species, 

 namely, the common poke (Phytolacca decandra) , the root (p. 

 465) and fruit (p. 466) of which are used in medicine. This is a 

 succulent, branching herb i to 4 M. high, having a large perennial 

 root. The stem is hollow except for the thin, papery partitions. 



