CHENOPODIAGE^-GOOSEFOOT FAMILY 



The Chenopods are a family of homely, weed-like herbs, more 

 or less succulent, with alternate leaves and minute, usually green- 

 ish flowers. The calyx is persistent, three to five lobed or cleft; 

 corolla absent; stamens usually as many as the lobes of the co- 

 rolla; ovary one-celled; styles and stigmas two to five. The fruit 

 is an akene or utricle. The family includes several potherbs 

 such as Beet and Spinach; a group of aromatic Goosefoots some- 

 times found in gardens; Kochia, a plant but recently in general 

 cultivation; also, the well-known Madeira Vine is referred to 

 this family. 



BEET 



Beta vulgaris. 



Beta, Celtic from hett, red; the ancient name. 



The Garden Beet of cultivation, the original form of which grows on 

 the coasts of southern Europe, reaching as far north as the Straits of 

 Dover. 



Root. — Biennial, fleshy, terete, tapering downward, red or yellow. 



Leaves. — Radical, large, greenish -purple, ovate-oblong; petioles four 

 to eight inches long, succulent, channelled. 



Flower stem. — Two to four feet high, leafy, paniculately branching, 

 bearing dense, sessile, axillary clusters, interruptedly spicate. 



Calyx. — Urn-shaped, three-bracted, five-cleft; finally hardened at 

 base. 



Corolla. — Wanting. 



Stamens. — Five. 



Style. — Short; stigmas two. 



Fruit. — An akene. 



The Goosefoot family is chiefly known to us by a few vile- 

 smelling weeds abounding in waste places; but it includes one 



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