POKEWEED FAMILY 75 
the upper ones of staminate flowers in long slender spikes, the axil- 
lary ones globular, composed of pistillate flowers. Bracts lance-awl- 
Fic. 16. Prince’s feather (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) 
A, staminate flower; B, pistillate flower; C, fruit. (All magnified.) 
(After Schnizlein) 
shaped about the length of the 5 sepals. In waste ground, fields, and 
gardens. Naturalized from tropical America. 
A. retroflexus L. and A. hybridus L., usually known as pigweed, 
are common autumn-flowering weeds. 
28. PHYTOLACCACEZH. PokrewrEEep FamiLy 
Plants with alternate entire leaves. Flowers bisexual, 5- 
parted, with the characters of the Goosefoot Family, but the 
ovary generally consisting of several carpels, which unite to 
form a berry. 
PHYTOLACCA L. 
Perennial herbs. Stems tall, branching. Leaves large, 
entire. Flowers small, in terminal racemes, pedicels bracted. 
Calyx of 4-5 nearly equal, persistent sepals. Stamens 5-15, 
inserted at the base of the calyx. Styles 5-12, recurved at 
the apex. Fruit a depressed-globose, juicy berry.* 
1. P. decandra L. PoxkewreEp. Stems erect, smooth, branched 
above, usually dark purple, 4-7 ft. tall; root large, fleshy, poisonous. 
Leaves ovate-lanceolate, smooth, acute, long-petioled. Racemes pe- 
duncled, many-flowered, opposite the leaves; flowers white, becoming 
purplish. Stamens 10, shorter than the sepals. Styles 10, carpels 10. 
