274 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Obs. Yerj generally cultivated for its fine esculent root — of which 

 there are several varieties. That one called " Sugar-beet " — with a 

 pale, yellowish root — is extensively cultivated, on the continent of Eu- 

 rope, for the purpose of making sugar, — and has been partially tried in 

 this country : but while we have the Sugar-maple and Sugar-cane to 

 supply us, it is not probable the Beet will be much relied upon, for that 

 object. A large rooted variety of B. Cicia, L. (a nearly allied species), 

 called Mangel Wurtzel, or Scarcity Root, is sometimes cultivated for 

 stock, — and is probably entitled to more attention than it has yet 

 received from our farmers — who are not generally partial to the culture 

 of root crops. 



3. BLI'TUM, Tournef. Blite. 



[The ancient Greek and Latin name of some pot-herb.] 



Caylx 3 - 5-parted, either unchanged or (in the species here noticed) be- 

 coming berry-like in fruit, not appendaged. Stamens 1 - 5 ; filaments 

 filiform. Styles, or stigmas, 2. Seed vertical, compressed globular ; 

 the embryo coiled into a ring quite around the albumen. Hersb with 

 petioled triangular, or halberd-shaped, and mostly sinuate-toothed leaves. 



1. B. capita'tum, L. Stem ascending, branching ; leaves triangular- 

 hastate, acute, sinuately toothed ; flowers interruptedly spiked ; calyx 

 pulpy and bright-red in fruit. 

 Clustered Blitum. Strawberry Blite. 



Anmial. Stem about a foot long, diffusely branched. Flowers in dense roundish clusters 

 which are collected towards the summit of the branches. 



On recently turned grounds and dry places, especially westward. June. Also a native 

 of Europe. 



Obs. We are not informed whether this is a troublesome weed, but as it 

 is rather common in some places, and as it must, from the strawberry-like 

 appearance of its ripe fruit, attract the notice of the observing farmer, 

 we give it a place. 



4. SPINA' CIA, Tournef. Spinach. 



[Latin, Spina, a thorn ; the covering of the fruit being often prickly.] 



Flowers DicEcious : Stam. Fl. Calyx 4 -5-parted, — the lobes equal. 

 Pistillate Fl. Calyx ventricose-tubular, 2 - 3-toothed. Ovary ovoid ; 

 styles 4, elongated, filiform. Akene included in the turgid indurated 

 calyx, which is often 2 - 3-horned on the back. Seed vertical, compress- 

 ed ; embryo annular, surrounding the farinaceous albumen. Herbaceous: 

 flowers axillary, glomerate, — the staminate ones in racemose-paniculate 

 clusters. 



1. S. olera'cea, Miller. Leaves petiolate, hastate-lanceolate, often in- 

 cised at base, or sagittate and entire. 

 Pot-herb Spinacia, Spinach, or Spinage. 



