Chenopodium,] chenopodiace,e. 417 



most part quite entire, but occasionally there is a toolh-like angle or two near llie 

 base, most commonly solitary or confined to one side, acute or very obtuse, with 

 all gradations between the two extremes ; in the latter case the apex of the leaf 

 is rounded and retuse : in general however the more acute termination greatly 

 predominates. Petioles variable in length, always much shorter than the leaves, 

 rounded and caniculate by the decurrent erect margins of the former. Stipules 

 none. Flowers numerous, in axillary, leafless, cymose clusters, minute and green- 

 ish, sessile, the form of inflorescence scarcely less variable in appearance than the 

 leaves, and well described by Leighton in his admirable ' Flora of Shropshire.' I 

 gladly avail myself of his own words in a great measure. Racemes cymose, axil- 

 lary, nearly sessile, shorter than the leaves, simply or repeatedly dichotomous, each 

 divarication having a sessile or pedicellate flower in the axil of the fork, leafless, 

 but crowded on the branches in such a manner as to present the appearance of an 

 elongated leafy spike. Segments of the perianth roundish or roundish ovate, con- 

 cave, gibbous at the back, either very obtuse or slightly pointed ; when in fruit 

 either erect or converging over the seed, but not perfectly covering it. Stamens 

 ralher longer than the ^ennnlh ; filaments flattish, broad, striate and pellucid; 

 anthers pale yellow, large, of 2 globose lobes. Styles 2 or sometimes 3, short, 

 recurved. Seeds horizontal, partially embraced by the perianth-segments,* orhi- 

 cular-reniform, much depressed, purplish black, shining and minutely punctulato- 

 striate, the circumference very obtuse or rounded (without a border). Pericarp 

 close, wrinkled, greenish or purplish. 



Our Isle-of-Wight plant is always the C. acutifolium of E. B., which, though 

 considered on high authority as not distinct from C. polyspermum, L., is never- 

 theless accounted a good species by many continental writers. For excellent 

 observations on this species see Leighton's ' Flora of Shropshire,' p. 121, whose 

 remarks are in perfect accordance with my own made in this island. 



3. C. album, L. White Ooosefoot. Vect. Lamb's Quarters. 

 "Leaves ovate inclining to rhomboid sinuato -toothed entire at 

 the base, upper ones oblong perfectly entire, spikes branched 

 somewhat leafy, seeds smooth shining somewhat keeled at the 

 edge."— Br. Fl. p. 346. E. B. t. 1723. 



In cultivated and waste ground, fields, gardens, by roadsides and on dung- 

 hills ; everywhere the most common and abundant species of the genus. Fl. 

 July, August. Fr. September. 0. 



4. C. glaucum, L. Oak-leaved Goosefoot. " Leaves all oblong 

 toothed and sinuated at the margin glaucous and mealy beneath, 

 spikes erect nearly simple leafless, stigmas short, seed minutely 

 reticulato-rugose." — Br. Fl. p. 346. E. B. xxi. t. 1454. 



In low, rich, waste ground, about farm-yards and on dung-hills, but very rarely, 

 Fl. August. Fr. September, October. Q. 



W. iked. — Abundantly on a piece of waste ground at Thorley, just outside of 

 the farm-yard near the church, between that and the high road, 1837. Quite pro- 

 cumbent on an old manure-heap at Swainston, 1839. 



Amongst the most uncommon of the English species, occurring in but few 

 places, chiefly, it is said, about London. Root fusiform, with copious fibres 

 at the crown. Stem erect or quite prostrate, scarcely a foot high, often much 

 less, obscurely angular, pale green, often beautifully striped with red, very smooth, 

 shining and succulent, simple or slightly branched towards the base, the 

 branches ascending. Leaves oblong, on rather short stalks attenuate at the base, 

 deeply sinuate or erose, obtuse, or in the upper ones somewhat acuminate, dark 



* Or according to some authors quite uncovered, the segments of the perianth 

 spreading. In my specimens the segments are certainly connivent and close upon 

 the seed, which however they are far from large enough to cover or conceal. 



3 H 



