Ambrina. 



CHENOPODIACE^E. 



135 



2. Ambrina anthelmintica, Spach. Wormseed. 



Stem erect ; leaves ovate-oblong, narrowed at the base into a petiole, unequally and incisely 

 serrate ; racemes spike-like, simple, elongated, slender, leafless ; lobes of the calyx not 

 carinate ; seed horizontal, globose-lenticular, rounded on the margin. — Spach, I. c, ex Moq.- 

 Tand. Chenop. p. 41. Chenopodium anthelminticum, Linn. sp. 1. p. 220; Michx. Jl. 1. 

 p. 173 ; PursJi, Jl. 1. p. 198 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 331 ; Bart. veg. mat. med. 2. t. 44 ; Torr. 

 fl.l. p. 296 ; Beck, hot. p. 296 ; Darlingt. jl. Cest. p. 177. 



Perennial. Stem about 2 feet high, angular and grooved, somewhat glandularly pubescent. 

 Leaves 2-3 inches long and 1-2 inches wide, very coarsely and sometimes sinuate-serrate. 

 Racemes numerous, axillary and terminal, formed of small glomerules of flowers arranged 

 along a filiform rachis, which in fruit is 1 - 2 inches long. Lobes of the calyx oval, obtuse. 

 Styles 3, united at the base. Seed very small, dark purplish brown, smooth and shining ; 

 the embryo forming about three-fourths of a circle. 



Road-sides, near New-York. Fl. July. Fr. September - October. The plant has a 

 strong terebinthine odor. The seeds yield the well-known vermifuge, called wormseed oil. 

 This oil resides in minute oblong transparent vesicles which are situated about the summit of 

 the utricle, to which they are only slightly attached, so that they easily separate at maturity. 



3. Ambrina ambrosioides, Spach. Mexican Tea. 



Stem erect, much branched ; leaves oblong, remotely sinuate-toothed or nearly entire , 

 the uppermost linear-lanceolate, entire ; racemes axillary, somewhat spiked, nearly simple, 

 leafy ; lobes of the calyx somewhat keeled ; seed horizontal ? (vertical, Moq.-Tand.), obtuse 

 on the margin, smooth. — Spach, I. c. p. 297, ex Moq.-Tand. Chenop. p. 39. Chenopodium 

 ambrosioides, Linn. sp. 1. p. 219 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 198 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 330 ; Torr. Jl. 1. 

 p. 295 ; Beck, hot p. 296 ; Darlingt. Jl. Cest. p. 175. 



Annual. Whole plant yellowish green, slightly and glandularly pubescent. Leaves 1-2 

 inches long : lower ones 5-8 lines wide, the upper 3-5 lines. Spikes about an inch long, 

 with small linear-spatulate leaves. Lobes of the calyx oblong, rather obtuse. Styles 3, united 

 at the base. Utricle covered with oblong vesicles which contain oil, as in the preceding species. 

 Seeds (in my immature specimens) apparently horizontal. 



Road-sides and waste places ; common near New-York and along the Hudson. Fl. August. 

 Fr. October. The whole plant has an agreeable aromatic odor. 



3. BLITUM. Linn.; Moq.-Tand. Chenop. p. 43. STRAWBERRY ELITE. 



[So named, it is said, from the Greek, bliton, insipid ; or from the Celtic, bliih, of the same meaning.] 



Calyx of 5 sepals, which are nearly distinct or somewhat united at the base, baccate in fruit 

 or nearly dry, without appendages. Stamens usually solitary. Styles 2, united below, 

 subulate-capillary. Utricle compressed, covered with the calyx. Seed vertical, somewhat 

 globose, unequally compressed. Embryo completely annular. — Mostly annual herbs, with 

 triangular-hastate toothed leaves. Flowers in glomerate (often berry-like) heads. 



