CARYOPHYLLACE. 435 
flowers of which are seen in our gardens, balanced upon an 
extremely delicate pedicle; the Catch-fly, Pearl Grass, Chick- 
weed, Stitchwort, and Ceraistes, are all prominent members of this 
order. 
CHENOPODs. 
A group of plants, the greater part of which have incon- 
spicuous, monochlamydeous flowers, free central placenta, an 
external embryo, curved or appended to the surface of a mealy or 
horny albumen. 
Annuals or perennials, often with fleshy roots, or shrubs or trees, ; 
Usually articulated at the tumid nodes; tubular, often coloured, calyx, CXCII. Nyctaginaceex, 
which separates from its buse, | ing a hard sp peri 
Herbaceous plants or tender shrubs, with alternate, entire, non-stipulate ) 
leaves; racemose flowers, with separate flat petals; stamens hypogynous, CXCIII, Phytolacez. 
or nearly so, alternate with the sepals ; 1 carpel ‘ 
PA sry Se. opposite or alternate non-stipulate leaves ; aon in 
, SCarious, buried in imbricated bracts, pubescent; stamens hypo- : 
Synous, five with separate sepals opposite the Snaamat one-celledanther; ¢ C*CIV- Amarantacee. 
and a single ovary, often containing several seeds. 
Herbaceous plants or tender herbs, with alternate non-stipulate leaves ; 
small flowers ; Calyx deeply divided with imbricated wstivation; stamens CXCV. Chenopodiacese 
inserted in the base of the calyx; sepals flat, separate, and opposite the i < 
Stamens ; anthers two-celled; herbaceous naked ions 
The group is of little general interest. The Nyctagins are 
natives of the warmer parts of either hemisphere. The Phytolads 
are natives of inter-tropical America, Africa, and India. 
Amaranths are most frequently natives of the tropics; a few are 
natives of Europe, and a considerable number of Australia. 
The Chenopods include many of our pot-herbs, as Spanish 
Orach, and the well-known agricultural Beet and Mangold-wurzel 
Plants, being very productive in sugar. 
PirerALs. 
The Pipers are distinguished by their naked achlamydeous 
flowers, minute embryo, either external, or just within the surface 
of a large quantity of mealy albumen. The Pirrracem are 
€xclusively confined to tropical regions, common in America and 
Indian Archipelago, and several species exist at the Cape 
of Good Hope. Cxtoranruace® differ from the Pipers in their 
naked embryo and pendulous ovule. They are also natives of the 
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