THE SPINACH FAMILY. 



237 



stemmed plant, native of the muddy sea-shores of this coimtry. 

 It grows to the height of six or more inches ; the stems make 

 a very good pickle. 



Salsola Kali and S. Soda, are branching annual plants, 

 having succulent almost leafless stems, growing to the height 

 of 1 or 2 feet, and found abundantly on the sandy sea-shores 

 of the temperate and warm countries of the Northern Hemi- 

 sphere, abounding on the shores of the Mediterranean, Canary 

 Islands, &c. By burning, a soda is obtained, which at one 

 time Avas largely imported under the name of Barilla, and 

 used for making soap and glass, but since the production 

 of soda from common salt the imports have not been so 

 large. 



Shrubby Saltwort {Salsola fruticosa). An erect branch- 

 ing plant, 2 to 3 feet high, having small semicylindrical 

 leaves not more than half an inch in length. It is common 

 on the shores in warm parts of Europe, Northern Africa, 

 and Western Asia ; it is found in this country but rarely, in 

 some parts of the eastern and southern shores only. In the 

 South of Europe it is burned for Barilla. 



Batis maritima. A low erect succulent frutlet, with small 

 opposite leaves, and inconspicuous unisexual flowers, pro- 

 duced in cone-like spikes. In general habit it is similar to 

 glasswort, with which some botanists consider it to be allied, 

 others viewing it as the type of a special family [Batidem) 

 belonging to the Spurgewort alliance. It is a native of salt 

 marshes in the West India islands and coasts of tropical 

 America. In some countries it is burnt for the carbonate 

 of soda which it contains. In Jamaica it is used as a 

 pickle. 



The genus Basella has been separated from Chenopodiaceje 

 and formed into the type of a distinct family (Basellacefe), 

 which some botanists place in alliance with fig marigolds. 

 It consists of about twelve species of climbing succulent fru- 

 ticuls, with alternate simple leaves, and succulent berried fruit. 

 They are widely spread throughout the tropics, Basella 

 rubra and B. alba having leaves like, and are used as 



