AMARANTIIACE^!. 30 1 



tiiers 2-celled. Styles or Stigmas 2 to 3, sometimes 4, 

 threadlike. Utricle opening transversely all round, or in- 

 dehiscent, 1-secded. — Chiefly annual weedy herbs, of coarse 

 aspect, with alternate and entire petiulcd leaves, and minute spike* 

 cluitercd flowers with green or purple bracts and calyx. 



* ifenatious : stamens'^. 



\. A. albus, L. White Cock 1 s-corrib. 



Smooth; stem upright, angular, with spreading or horizontal branches; leaves 

 obovate or spatulate-iblong, pale-green, obtuse or notched; ctuilers axillary, in- 

 conspicuous ; bracts lance-oval-shaped, with spreading spiny tips longer than the 

 calyx. 



Open waste places and roadsides, common. Aug. A very homely weed. 1 to 3 

 feet high. Leavs % to 2 inches lung, somewhat wavy-maTglned. Floiecrs incon- 

 spicuous, concealbd among the greenish bracts, in small clusters. 



* * Stamens 5. 



2. A. HYBRLDUS, L. Hybred Amaranth. 



Roughish-puboscent; stem upright, grooved angled, sparingly branched, or sim- 

 ple; leaves orate aud lance ovate ; flowers crowded in dense compound terminal 

 and axillary naked spikes; bracts awl-shaped, nearly bristle-pointed, longer than 

 the flowers. 



Wasfe and cultivated grounds, common. July — Oct. Stem 1 to 5 feet high, stout. 

 /saves 2 to 5 inch's long, alternate. Floioers minute, in large-green oblong spikee, 

 becoming a*, length a dull i 1. 



3. A. retroflexus, L. Hairy Amaranth. 



Rough-hairy ; stem upright, stout, often zigzag, the lower branches recurved at 

 the base; leaves ovate, wary-margined; spikes compact, triply compound, erect ; 

 bracti awl-shaped, ; Dinted, much longer than the flower?. 



Waste and cultivated grounds, among rubbish, common. July — Oct. Plant 2 

 to ti feet high, scarcely distinct from A. hybrid us. being rougher and stouter, with 

 thicker and morj crowded spik . s and larger flowers. 



4. A. spinosus, L. Spiny Amaranth. 



Smoothi.-h. branching; leaves ovate-lanceolate, spiny at the axils; sterile clusters 

 crowded in compound panicled and naked spikes, the fertile mostly compact and 

 globular in th^ axils; bracts not longer than the calyx. 



Roadsid: s and cultivated grounds ; introduced. June — Sept. Stem 1 to 3 feet 

 high, often purplish. Spines % to ]/ 2 inch long. Flowers greenish. 



5. A. Blitusi, L. Low Amaranth. 



Smooth, diffusely spreading; leaves ovate or rhomboid, very obtuse or notched ; 

 s in smail and round axillary clusters and in naked terminal spikes ; bracts 

 shorter than the calyx. 



Gardens and waste grounds; introduced! July— Soot. Stein, mostly prostrate 

 and sprea ling. Leaves as long as thj petioles, y 2 to % a3 wido. Floors numer- 

 ous, greenish. Stamens 3. 



** * FloWers red or purplish. 



6. A. HYPOcaoNDRlACUS, L. Prince's Feather, 



Nearly smooth; stem upright, stout; leaves ovate, acute; flowers clustered on up- 

 rii.Lt compound spikes or racemes. 



•Common around gardens. July— Sept. Whole plant dark red, 3 to 4 feet hi&h. 

 Leaves green with a red pnrple spot or tinged with purple. Flowers bright red- 

 purple as well as the subulate bracts. 



K2 



