370 AMARANTAOE^. (aMAKANTH FAMILY.) 



1. m. tiiniarfscina. (Amarantus tamariscinus, N-utt., & ed. I. A. 

 altissimus & Miamensis, Ridddl. Acnida altissima, Michx. herb. A. rasocarpa, 

 Moquin, &c.) — Low grounds and moist sandy shores, Vermont to Wisconsin, 

 Illinois, and southward, especially westward. Aug., Sept. — Var. concate- 

 nXta is a form with the lower clusters in the fertile plant forming thickish dis- 

 tant heads (4'- J' in diameter) in the axils of the leaves ; the stems often low 

 and spreading or decumbent. — A very variable plant, as to inflorescence, height 

 (l°-6° high), the size and shape of the leaves (l'-5' long, the petioles often of 

 the same length), the bracts more or less awl-shaped, equalling or exceeding the 

 fruit (which is that of Amarantus) : but all are forms of one species. The 

 sterile plant is Acnida rusocarpa, Michx., or was mixed with it in Michaux'a 

 collection, but not the fertile ; for the fruit of the present plant is neither obtuse- 

 angled, rugose, nor indehisccnt. Besides, that name is unmeaning. In estab- 

 lishing this genus, therefore, as Moquin clearly would have done had he exam- 

 ined the iipc fruit, I adopt Nuttall's specific name. 



4. ACNIDA, L. Watek-Hemp. 



Fruit a fleshy and indehiscent utricle, 3 - 5-angled, the angles often rugose or 

 tubercled-crested. Stigmas 3-5, shorter than the ovary, linear-awl-shaped. 

 Flowers in rather loose panicled spikes. Otherwise as in the last genus. (Name 

 formed of a privative and Kvihr), a nettle. ) 



1. A. cannilbinsi, L. Leaves elongated-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 

 long-petioled ; fruit globular (lJ"-2" long), much exceeding the pointless 

 bracts. (3; — Salt-marshes on the coast, Massachusetts to Virginia and south- 

 ward. Aug. - Oct. — Plant 3° - 6° high. — Probably the only species ; for A. 

 rusocarpa, Michx., is certainly to be divided between this and Montelia tamaris- 

 eina ; and A. tuberculata, Moquin, is likely to be one or the other. 



5. IRKSilVi;, P. Browne. Iresine. 



Flowers mostly polygamous or dicecious, 3-bracted. Calyx of 5 sepals. Sta- 

 mens mostly 5 : filaments slender, united into a short cup at the base : anthers 

 1-celled, ovate. Fruit a globular utricle, not opening. — Herbs, with opposite 

 petioled leaves, and minute scarious white flowers crowded into clusters or 

 spiked and branching panicles, the calyx, &c. often bearing long wool (wlience 

 the name, from dpccnoavr}, a branch entwined with fillets of wool borne in pro- 

 cessions at festivals.) 



1. I. celosioldes, L. Nearly glabrous, erect, slender (2°-4° high) ; 

 leaves ovate-lanceolate; panicles nan'ow, naked ; bracts and calyx silvery-white, 

 the latter woolly at the base. ® — Dry banks, Ohio, Kentucky, and south- 

 ward. Sept. 



6. FROBI^iCHIA, Moench. (OpLOTHiscA, Nm.) 



Flowers perfect, 3-bractcd. Calyx tubular, 5-cleft at the summit, below 2-5- 

 crested lengthwise or tubercled and indurated in fruit, and enclosing the closed 

 thin utricle. Filaments united into a tube, bearing 5 oblong l-celled anthers, 

 and as many sterile strap-shaped appendages. — Hairy or woolly herbs, with 



