Chenopodium Olidum. Stinking Blite, or Orach, 
CHENOPODIUM Lin. Gen. PI. Pentandria Digynia. 
Cal. 5-phyllus, 5-gonus. Cor. o. Semen 1. lenticulare fuperum. 
Rail Syn. Gen. 5. Herbje flore imperfecto seu stamineo vel 
APETALO POTIUS. 
CHENOPODIUM Vulvaria foliis integerrimis, rhomboideo-ovatis, floribus conglomeratis axil- 
laribus. Lin. Syfl. Vegetab. p. 216. Sp. Pl. 321» FI. Suec. 222. 
CHENOPODIUM caule diffufo, foliis obtufe lanceolatis. Haller hijl. n. 1577. 
CHENOPODIUM Vulvaria. Scopoli FI. Carn. n. 281. 
ATRIPLEX fcetida. Bauh. Pin. 119. 
ATRIPLEX olida, Ger. emac. 327. 
ATRIPLEX fylveftris fcetida. Park. 749. 
BLITUM foetidum Vulvaria di£tum. Raii Syn. p. 156. Stinking Orache. Hudfon FI. Angi. ed. 2. 
p. 107. Lightfoot FI. Scot. p. 149. 
Tota planta farina alba pellucida adfperfa. 
RADIX annua, fibrofa. 
CAULES plures, diffufi, teretes, fubftriati, nudiuf- , 
culi. 
FOLIA alterna, petiolata, rhomboideo-ovata, inte- < 
gerrima. ' 
FLORES axillares et terminales, denfe glomerati, ' 
fubfpicati. 
FRUCTIFICATIO a reliquis hujus generis vix di- 
verfa. 
Fig. 1. exhibet Calycem, Stamina, cum Piftillo. 
Fig. 2. Semen Calyce inclufum. 
Fig. 3. Semen feorfim. Omnia auft. 
> The whole plant fprinkled with a white pellucid meal, 
i ROOT annual and fibrous. 
’ STALKS numerous, fpreading, round, fomewhat 
ftriated, and thinly befet with leaves. 
LEAVES alternate, (landing on footftalks, rhomboid- 
ovate, perfe&Iy entire. 
FLOWERS axillary and terminal, thickly cluftered, 
and fomewhat fpiked. 
• FRUCTIFICATION fcarcely different from the reft 
I of this genus. 
i 
\ Fig. 1. exhibits the Calyx, with the Stamina and Pif- 
■t tillum. 
► 
Fig. 2. The Seed enclofed by the Calyx. 
Fig. 3. The Seed feparate. All magnified. 
There is fome difficulty in afcertaining feveral of the plants of this genus, but that difficulty cannot be 
alleged againft the prefent fpecies, as it is at all times, both freffi and dried, difcoverable by its fmell alone ; 
the whole plant, if ever fo flightly bruifed betwixt the thumb and fingers, communicating a very permanently 
difagreeable odour, refembling, in the opinion of moft perfons, ftale fait fiffi : it is, moreover, a procumbent 
plant. 
This fpecies is very common in the neighbourhood of London, on dry banks, and at the foot of walls and 
paling, where it flowers from July to September. Lewis errs egregioufly when he fays it naturally delights 
m moift places. 
It is a plant of little confequence, except in a medicinal point of view, and in that its virtues are, perhaps, 
ill-founded ; it retains, however, a place in the London and Edinburgh Difpenfatories. 
“ Stinking Orache, on account of its flrong fcent, is reckoned an ufeful antihyfteric ; in which intention, 
“ fome recommend a conferve of the leaves, others a watery infufion, and others a fpirituous tin&ure of 
“ th em - ° n feme occafions it may, perhaps, be preferable to the fetids, which have been more commonly 
“ ™ ade ufe of, as not being accompanied with any pungency or irritation, and feeming to aft merely by 
“ virtue of its odorous principle.” Lewis's Mat. Med. p. 124. 1 1 
