132 



CHENOPODIACE.E. 



« 



Group 2. Flowers perfect or rarely polygamous, with a regular and often petaloid 

 calyx, and a one-celled one-ovuled ovary ; or else with a whorl of one-ovuled 

 carpels. Embryo curved or coiled around the outside of mealy albumen, or 

 spiral, rarely in the axis. — Mostly herbs. 



Order LXXXIII. CHENOPODIACE^. Vent. The Goosefoot Tribe. 



Calyx of 5 (rarely 4, 3 or 2) sepals which are more or less united ; the base 

 sometimes tubular, often capsular, fleshy, winged or spiny in fruit. Stamens 

 usually as many as the lobes of the calyx, and inserted at their bases : anthers 

 2-celled, opening longitudinally. Ovary with a single ovule at its base : styles 

 mostly 2, and distinct : stigmas simple. Fruit an utricle, or rarely an achenium. 

 Embryo curved, annular or spiral. — Mostly herbs, but sometimes undershrubs, 

 almost always of a homely aspect. Leaves alternate, often fleshy, simple, 

 sometimes wanting or reduced to scales. 



CONSPECTUS OF THE TRIBES AND GENERA. 



Division 1. Cyclolobe^e. Embryo annular. 



Tribe 1. ANSERINEjE. Flowers perfect, all similar in form. Seed with a double integument, free from the 

 pericarp. 



I Chenopodium. Calyx not becoming succulent. Stamens 5. Seed horizontal, lenticular. Embryo forming a 

 complete ring. — Herbs, sprinkled with a mealy powder. 



2. Ambrina. Calyx not becoming succulent. Stamens 5. Seed horizontal or vertical, lenticular. Embryo forming 



an incomplete ring. — Herbs, not mealy, usually strong-scented. 



3. Blitum. Calyx often becoming succulent and baccate. Stamens solitary. Seed vertical, somewhat globose, un- 



equally compressed. 



Tribe 2. SPINACIEjE. Flowers diclinous ; the fertile and sterile differing in form. Integument of the seed single 

 or double. 



4. Atriplex. Flowers polygamous. Sterile and perfect fl. without bracts. Calyx 3 - 5-sepalled. Stamens 3-5. 



Fertile fl. with two bracts at the base, which are at length dilated. Calyx none. Fruit compressed, included 

 in the rhombic or hastate bracts. Seed vertical, lenticular, with a double integument. 



5. Obione. Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Sterile fl. without bracts. Calyx 4 - 5-sepalled. Stamens 4-5. 



Fertile fl. with two more or less united bracts at the base, which are at length inflated, and either indurated 

 or corky. Calyx none. Fruit compressed, covered with the enlarged capsule-like bracts. Seed ovate, rostellate, 

 with a double membranous testa. 



6. Acnida. Flowers dioecious, without bracts. Sterile fl. Calyx 5-sepalled ; the sepals equal, appendiculate. Sta- 



mens 5, very short. Fertile fl. Calyx 3-sepalled. Stigmas 3-5. Achenium triangular. 



Tribe 3. SALICORNIEyE. Flowers mostly perfect, or if diclinous, the sterile and f rtile similar, either without 

 bracts, and then immersed in excavations of the rachis ; or partly concealed in the joints ; or scaly. 

 Seed vertical. Fruit an utricle or achenium. Embryo conduplicate, or half a circle.— Stems jointed. 

 Leaves very short and fleshy, or none. 



7. Salicornia. Flowers without scales, immersed in hollows of the rachis. Calyx utriculate. Stamens one or two. 



