CHAPTER XXVI. 



CHENOPODIAGE.^. 



I. General characters of the Order. — Flowers small, regular; 

 hypogynous, except in the genus Beta, which has epigynous 

 flowers. Perianth green, five partite, persistent. Andrcecium 

 of five stamens opposite to the perianth segments. Gynjecium 

 with a one-celled ovary containing a single ovule. Fruit usually 

 a nut, more or less enclosed by the perianth, which is mem- 

 branous, fleshy or woody. Seed endospermous with a curved 

 embryo. 



The plants of this Order are generally herbaceous, with simple, 

 entire exstipulate leaves. The latter are often fleshy, and -in 

 some genera appear covered with a whitish powder or meal. 



This appearance is due to short hairs which grow from the 

 epidermis, each hair consisting of a stalk of one or two cells, 

 terminated by a large round or star-shaped cell containing clear 

 watery cell-sap. 



Most representatives of the Chenopodiaceae are met with near 

 the sea and on the shores and marshes surrounding inland salt 

 lakes. 



Many weeds belonging to the Order are specially luxuriant 

 upon well-manured ground and on waste places where urine and 

 fsecal matter have been deposited. The whole Order seems 

 specially adapted to exist in soils much impregnated with 

 common salt, nitrates of sodium and potassium, and similar 

 compounds, and the application of common salt to the mangel 

 and beet crop usually improves the yield. 



The genera belonging to it which need special mention are 



