Atriplex hastata. Spear-leaved Orach. 
ATRIPLEX Linnai. Gen. Pl. Polygamia Monoecia. 
Hermaphrod. Cal. 5-phyllus. Cor. o. Siam. 5. Stylus 2-partitus. Sem. 1, 
depreflum. 
Fem. Cal. 2-phyllus. Cor. o. Siam. o. Stylus 2-partitus. Sem. 1, com- 
preflum. 
Rail Syn.Gen. 5. Herba; floreTmperfecto seu Stamineo (vel apetalo potius.) 
ATRIPLEX hajlata caule herbaceo, calycis valvulis femineis magnis deltoidibus finuatis. Linnai. Syjl. 
Vegetab. p. 764. Sp. pl. 1494. FI. Suecic. n. 921. 
ATRIPLEX foliis triangularibus, ball produ£ta, valvulis triangularibus, fubafperis. Haller hijl.n. 1617. 
ATRIPLEX fylveftris folio haftato feu deltoide. Raii Syn.p. 1 5 1 , Wild Orache with a fpear-pointed leaf. 
Hudfon FI. Angi. ed. 1. p. 337. 
Lightfoot FI. Scot. p. 636. 
RADIX annua, fimplex, fibrofa, albida. 
CAULIS plerumque ere&us, pedalis aut tripedalis, te- 
tragonus, angulis obtufis, lateribus fubfulca- 
tis, ad geniculos tumidiufculus, laevis, pur- 
purafcens, ad bafin ufque, ramofus ; Rami 
oppofiti, inferiores longiflimi, caulem ipfum 
interdum aequantes, utplurimum procum- 
bentes. 
FOLIA ima triangularia, margine plus minufve den- 
tata, farina fubtus copiofe adfperfa, faepe ve- 
ro penitus glabra, oppofita, petiolata, fuperio- 
ra ovato lanceolata, integerrima, alterna. 
FLORES in fummis caulibus et ramulis, in fpicas an- 
guftas rubentes, digefti. 
Flos hermaphroditus Jlerilis. 
CALYX : Perianthium pentaphyllum, foliolis ova- 
tis, concavis, marginibus membranaceis lace- 
ris, fig. 1. 
COROLLA nulla. 
STAMINA; Filamenta quinque, calyce paulo lon- 
giora; An therje fubrotundae, didymas, ru- 
brae, fig. 3. 
PISTILLUM ; Germen in centro flofculi minimum 
fterile. 
Flos femineus. 
CALYX; Perianthium diphyllum, foliolis ovato- 
acutis, eredtis, granulis diaphanis obdudtis, 
fig. 
PISTILLUM : Germen ovatum,^. 6 : Styli duo, 
etiam tres, filiformes, albi, fig. 4, 5. 
PERICARPIUM nullum. Calycis valvse magnae, cor- 
datae, afperas, inter fe includentes femen, fig. 
7, 8. 
SEMEN unicum, orbiculatum, compreffum, fig. 9. 
ROOT annual, fimple, fibrous, and of a whitifh colour. 
STALK generally upright, from one to three feet in 
height, four cornered, the angles obtufe, the 
fides fomewhat grooved, a little fwelled at the 
joints, fmooth, of a purplifh colour, and 
branched quite to the bottom : the Branches 
oppofite ; the lowermoft very long, fome- 
times almoft equal with the flalk itfelf, and 
for the moft part procumbent. 
LEAVES on the lower part of the flalk triangular, 
with the edge more or lefs indented, fprink- 
led plentifully on the under fide with meal, 
fometimes quite fmooth, oppofite, ftnd Hand- 
ing on foot-flalks ; the upper leaves oval, 
pointed, intire, and alternate. 
FLOWERS difpofed on the tops of the flalks and bran- 
ches in narrow reddifh fpikes. 
Hermaphrodite Flower fierile. 
CALYX : a Perianthium of five leaves, which are 
oval and concave, the edges membranous and 
jagged, fig. 1. 
COROLLA wanting. 
STAMINA: five Filaments a little longer than the 
Calyx ; Antherje roundifh, double, and of 
a red colour, fig. 3. 
PISTILLUM : a very minute barren Germen in the 
center of the flofcule. 
Female Flower. 
CALYX : a Perianthium of two leaves, which are 
oval, pointed, upright, and covered ovr 
with tranfparent grains or globules, fig. 2. 
PISTILLUM : Germen oval, fig. 6. Styles two, 
fometimes three, filiform and white, fig. 4, 5. 
SEED-VESSEL none. Valves of the Calyx large, 
heart-fhaped, rough, including the feed, fig. 
7 . 8 . 
SEED fingle, orbicular, and flattened, fig. 9. 
BOTANISTS have happily divided the plants of this tribe into two Genera, each ftrikingly diflinguifhable by 
the particular form of its ieed-veflells : without this divifion, great indeed would be the difficulty of invefligating 
The Chenopodium has hermaphrodite flowers only, which produce a feed contained within the calyx, compofed 
of five leaves, which as the feed ripens, does not inlarge itfelf. 
The Atriplex produces female blofloms, and male or hermaphrodite ones ; the feed is contained within the calyx 
of the female bloffom, which is compofed of two leaves or valves, which increafe as the feed becomes ripe ; and in 
this flate only, is it obvioufly diflinguifhable from the Chenopodium ; for at the time of its flowering, fo fmall are 
the female blofloms, as fcarce to be diflinguifhed without a magnifying glafs. 
The plant here figured, is one of the moft common of this genus, and one of the moft variable in nature. Firft 
it varies exceedingly according to its age, the perfon who had been accuftomed to gather it in its young ftate, would 
fcarce recognize it when far advanced : fecondly, it varies according to its fituation ; on dunghills it grows very 
ftrono- and luxuriant ; by the road fides, it is a much weaker plant, and its branches long and procumbent ; in wet 
places, it is apt to become much more upright, the leaves fometimes are veiy mealy on the under fide, particular- 
ly when it grows on the fea fhore ; at other times they are altogether fmooth : in general, the broad triangular 
leaf readily diftinguifhes this fpecies : but on dunghills, a variety fometimes occurs with leaves not exactly corref- 
ponding to this figure, but approaching more to an oval, with an intire edge. 
In its young ftate, this plant is frequently gathered under the name of Fat-hen , Lambs-quartcrs, &c. and eaten 
in lieu of Spinach and other greens. 
Birds, particularly that milchievous one the fparrow, are very fond of the feeds of the Orach's. I have frequent- 
ly had a plant of this Genus, ftript of its feeds by them in a very fhort time. 
Cattle do not feem to be fond of it. 
In the garden and cultivated ground, it is a very troublefome annual. 
The farmer, as we have before hinted, would do well to weed his dung-heap of this and the other fpecies, 
which are equally noxious. 
