400 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



chiefly in their flowers being small, without petals, and with 

 few stamens. 



They are widely distributed, growing on hot sandy shores 

 and dry plains, the most important being 



New Zealand Spinach {Tetragonia expaiua). An annual 

 prostrate plant, with dark green leaves. It was dis- 

 covered in New Zealand during Captain Cook's first 

 voyage, and was much prized as a fresh vegetable by the 

 ships' crews. It has since been found wild in many other 

 countries. 



It was early introduced into England, and in some gardens 

 is cultivated as a substitute for Spinach, being wholesome, 

 but of rather a slimy nature. 



The small family, Scleranthce^ is also referred to this 

 alliance. It consists of about a dozen species of small-leaved 

 frutlets or herbs. Flowers destitute of petals, Eepresented 

 in this country by Sclerantlius annuus and S. perennis. 

 Known as Knawell. 



TURNERACE^. 



Herbs or partially shrubby frutlets of a weedy natuiT. 

 Leaves alternate, simple, with glands on the petiole. Flowers 

 solitary, axillary, j^ellow, their peduncles, often united with 

 the leaf. Calyx 5-lobed; petals 5, twisted in the bud. 

 Stamens 5 ; fruit a 3-valved 1 -celled capsule, only the upper 

 half opening. 



About 60 species constitute this family, all being natives 

 of the West Indies and tropical America. Turnera ulmifolia 

 is a pretty hothouse plant, curious in the footstalk of the 

 flower being united with the leaf. 



Samydace^. 



Small trees or shrubs, sometimes spiny, with alternate 

 simple leaves, containing pellucid oblong markings. Flowers 

 small, axillary, solitary or many together. Fruit a leathery 

 3 to 5-valved 1 -celled capsule, pulpy inside, with numerous 

 seeds. 



