696 



THE GOOSEFOOT FAMILY. 



Fig. 836. 



the leaves quite entire, as in the stink- 

 ing G., but without the granular meali- 

 ness or the nauseous smell of thatspecies. 

 It is also sometimes erect, a foot high, 

 with numerous branches, ascending from 

 the base. Leaves usually rather thin, 

 green, ovate, \ to 2 inches long. Clus- 

 ters of flowers small, in short axillary 

 spikes ; the upper ones forming an irre- 

 gular terminal spike or narrow panicle. 

 Catyx-segments thin, green, not cover- 

 ing the seed as in the white G. 



In cultivated and waste places, dis- 

 persed all over Europe and Russian 

 xVsia, except the extreme north. In Bri- 

 tain, limited to southern and central 

 England. Fl. summer and autumn. 



3. White Goosefoot. Chenopodium album, Linn. 

 (Fig. 837.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1723 and C.ficifolium, t. 1724.) 



A tough annual, usually erect, 1 to 2 

 feet high, of a pale green, or more or 

 less mealy-white, especially the flowers 

 and the under side of the leaves. Leaves 

 stalked, the lower ones ovate or rhom- 

 boidal, more or less sinuately toothed or 

 angular, the upper ones usually narrow 

 and entire. Clusters of flowers in short 

 axillary spikes, either dense or inter- 

 rupted, simple or slightly branched ; the 

 upper ones forming a long panicle, leafy 

 at the base. Seeds entirely enclosed in 

 the perianth, and all horizontal. 



In cultivated and waste places, through- 

 out Europe and central and Russian Asia 

 to the Arctic regions, and carried out 

 with cultivation to nearly all parts of the 

 globe. The commonest species in Bri- 

 tain. Fl. all summer and autumn. Spe- 

 cimens may sometimes occur with al- 

 most all the leaves entire, but they have not the smell of the stinking G., 



Fig. 837. 



