Chenop6dium.~\ lxx . chenopodiaceje : chenopodeve. 359 
■** Stem continuous. Leaves semicylindrical or terete. ( Embryo spiral .) 
5. Su.'EDA. Segments of the perianth remaining unaltered. 
6. Salsola. Segments of the perianth ultimately with a dorsal trans- 
verse wing. 
*** Stem continuous. Leaves fiat. {Embryo annular.') 
f Flowers all similar and mostly perfect. 
1. Beta. Lower half of the ovary and utricle adhering to the perianth. 
2. Chenopodium. Ovary and utricle free from the perianth. 
tf Flowers imperfect: alt, or some of the pistillate ones, of a different form. 
3. Atriplex. 
Suis-Ord. 1. CYCLOLOBEiE. Embryo annular, curved round 
the ( usually ) copious albumen. 
Tribe I. Chenopode.®:. Flowers uniform , mostly perfect. Stem 
continuous. (Gen. 1, 2.) 
1. Beta Linn. Beet. 
Perianth single, 5-cleft, persistent. Stam. 5. Utricle reni- 
forru, imbedded in the fleshy base of the calyx. — Named from 
the Celtic bwyd, or biadh, food or nourishment ; being used for 
that purpose. 
1. B. maritima L. ( common B.); stems erect or procumbent 
at the base angled branched, spikes longish narrow somewhat 
erect leafy panicled, flowers 1—4 together sessile, when in fruit 
2 — 3 cohering, segments ultimately keeled and infiexed at the 
summit. E. B. t. 285. B. vulgaris L. 
Sea-shores, especially in a muddy soil. England ; and the south, 
principally, of Scotland. $ or If.. 6 — 9 Foot large, thick, and 
fleshy. Stem tall. Root-leaves subovate, succulent, entire, waved, 
upper cauline ones nearly sessile, oblong. Spikes of fiowers numerous, 
leafy; leaves small, at the base of each flower or pair of flowers, which 
are greenish. Styles usually 2. — Moquin-Tandon has at length 
satisfied himself that the B. maritima is the wild form of the cultivated 
beet, and also of the mangel-wurzel. Smith observes that, according 
to Linnams, B. maritima differs from B. vulgaris in the keel of the 
calyx being entire. The present is esteemed a wholesome food when 
boiled, hlr. W. Wilson finds always 3 styles, the germen 3-sided, 
flowers often 3 together, and that when the seed is ripe the germen 
becomes purple and granulated. 
2. Chenopodium Linn. Goose-foot. 
Flowers usually all perfect. Perianth nearly uniform, usually 
5-(sometimes 2 — 4-) cleft, persistent and unaltered, or at length 
fleshy, closing upon the fruit. Ovary and fruit free from the 
perianth. Seed lenticular. ( Leaves flat. Bracteas under each 
