Atriplex. | LXII. CHENOPODIACER. 379 
sessile, and the female perianths are mostly clustered in the axils of the 
leaves, whilst the male flowers are in rather dense spikes, forming short 
terminal panicles, Leaves usually broadly triangular or rhomboidal, and 
coarsely toothed. Fruiting perianths always mealy-white, rather thick, 
rhomboidal or orbicular, often warted; the segments united to above the 
middle, but not so high as in A. portulacoides. A. laciniata, Linn, A. 
arenaria, Woods. A. farinosa, Dumort. 
On the seacoasts and in the saline districts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, 
but not extending to the Artic regions, Not uncommon round the British 
Isles. £1. summer and autumn. 
oy eee 
LXIII. POLYGONACEA. THE POLYGONUM FAMILY. 
Herbs, or in some exotic species, shrubs, with alternate 
leaves, and thin, scarious stipules, forming a sheath or ring 
round the stem within the leafstalk. Flowers small, herba- 
ceous or sometimes coloured, clustered in the axils of the leaves 
or in spikes or racemes, forming terminal panicles. Perianth 
of 6, 5, or fewer segments, regular and equal, or the inner ones 
enlarged. Stamens variable in number, never more than 8 in 
the British species. Ovary free, with a single ovule, but with 
2, 3, or more styles or stigmas. Fruit a small, seed-hke nut, 
enclosed in the persistent perianth, Embryo of the seed 
straight or curved, in a mealy albumen. 
A considerable Order, dispersed over every part of the globe, from the 
hottest tropical plains to the extreme arctic regions, or to the highest 
mountain summits, close to the limits of perpetual snows. Some tropical 
species are tall, woody climbers, or erect shrubs, but the majority of the 
Order are herbs approaching Chenopodiacee in character, and sometimes in 
habit, but always readily known by their sheathing stipules, even when 
reduced to a narrow ring or a mere line surrounding the stem, They also 
very seldom acquire any of the mealiness of Chenopodiaceae. 
Fruiting perianth of 6 segments, 3 inner ones often enlarged of) Ee Roars, 
Fruiting perianth of 4 segments, 2 inner ones enlarged . - oo oe OLE BEA, 
Fruiting perianth of 5 nearly equal segments . : ‘ ° . & POLYGONUM. 
The Rhubarbs of our gardeners and druggists are species of the genus 
Rheum, belonging to Polygonacee. 
I RUMEX. DOCK. 
Herbs or shrubs, the British species all perennials, with a thick root- 
stock, and erect, furrowed annual stems; the thin sheathing stipules 
never fringed on the edge, but soon becoming torn or jagged. Lower 
leaves stalked and often large. Flowers numerous, small, herbaceous, 
though often turning red, usually pedicellate, in whorl-like clusters, 
axillary or in terminal racemes, often branching into panicles. Perianth 
deeply 6-cleft; when in fruit the three inner segments become enlarged 
and close over the triangular nut. Stamens 6. Styles 3, very short, with 
fringed stigmas. 
