3.58 
lxx. chenopodiacEjE. \_Amaranlhus. 
1. Amaranthus Linn. Amaranth. 
Flowers polygamous-monoecious, tribracteated. — Barren fl. 
Perianth single, deeply 3 — 5-partite. Siam. 3 — 5, distinct: 
anthers 2-celled. — Fertile fl. Perianth single, deeply 3 — 5- 
partite. Styles 3 or 2. Utricle with 1 vertical seed, bursting 
all round transversely. — Named from a , not, paputvo), to fade, 
or, flowers which do not fade; they are commonly called 
“ Everlasting flowers.” 
1. A. *Blitum L. (wild A.); flowers 3-cleft and triandrous in 
small axillary clusters the segments very obtuse, leaves long- 
stalked obovate obtuse attenuate at the base, perianth as long 
as the bracteas and half the length of the utricle which is 
2 — 3-toothed and wrinkled at the apex, stem erect or ascending 
angled and furrowed. E. B. t. 2212. 
Low waste grounds and near dunghills, appearing occasionally 
about Cambridge, London, and in Huntingdonshire. ©. 8. — An 
extremely misunderstood species, of which we have seen no British 
specimen : several other half-naturalized plants are probably often 
collected for it. 
(A. retrnftexus L. has been found near Hertford and Sawbridge- 
worth, but has no title to a place in the flora of this country : it is 
scarcely a European plant, but rather an American one.) 
Ord. LXX. CHENOPODIACEiE Juss. 
Sometimes monoecious or polygamous. Perianth free gene- 
rally deeply cleft and without bracteas at its base. Stamens 
mostly 5 (in Salsola 2 or 1). Stamens from the base of the 
perianth, and opposite to the segments : anthers 2-celled. Ovary 
1 , 1-celled, with a single ovule. Style divided, rarely simple. 
Fruit indehiscent (usually a utricle, sometimes a caryopsis, rarely 
fleshy). Seed 1 at the base of the cell. Embryo spiral and 
without albumen, or curved round a farinaceous albumen. — 
Herbs, rarely shrubs; without stipules. Flowers small, inele- 
gant. — In this Order are many potherbs, some are tonic, and 
antispasmodic. The seeds of Chenopodium are employed in the 
preparation of shagreen; C. Quinao is a most extensively used 
article of food in Peru ; C. ambrosioides and C. Botrys contain 
an essential oil; C. anthelminticum yields wormseed oil, a pow- 
erful vermifuge, as its name implies; and C. olidum exhales pure 
ammonia. Atriplex hortensis is the garden orache; Spinachia, 
the spinage ; Beta, the beet. All yield carbonate of soda and 
lienee barilla. From beet-roots is extracted the very fine 
sugar now extensively manufactured in France. 
* Stem jointed. ( Embryo annular.) 
4. Sai.icokxia. Stam. 1—2. 
