USEFUL PLANTS OF TIJE DISTRICT OF LAKHIMPUR. 
371 
Bistrib. — Cultivated throughout the Western ana Eastern Hima- 
layas to Western Tibet, also the Nilgiri Hills in the Deccan, Central 
Europe and North Asia. 
An annual glabrous herb with triangular leaves, much [cultivated about Dibrugarh. 
A kind of bread is made of the grain. 
XXI (JJiENOPODIACEAE. 
47. Beta Linn. 
59. B. vulgaris Linn. F. B. I. v, 5; Fnar. & Prantl iii, la, 57 ; 
Beng. PI. 87*9 ; Pharmacog. Ind. iii, 148. 
B< vulgaris L. var. maritima Koch. Eng. & Prantl iii, la, 58 ; D. 
E. P. i, 448. • B. bengalensis Roxb. FI. Ind. ii, 59. 
Bibrugarh. Nos. 7 and 33. 
Local name. — -Bit Palang, Palak (this name really belongs to Spina - 
cia). “Beet.” 
Bistrib:— r-Cultivated in various parts of India, Europe and North 
Asia. 
Two forms of tho common Beetroot are common in cottage gardens. The form which 
has green leaves is used as a sag, but its root is not eaten. The form which has rod leaves 
is cultivated only for its root. 
48. Cheiiopotlilllll Linn. 
61). 0. album Linn. F. B. I. v, 3 ; Eng. & Prantl iii, la. 61 ; Moss. 
Camb. Brit. Flora ii, 157 ; Beng. PI. 879 ; D. E. P. ii, 265 ; Pharmacog, 
Ind. iii, 14 S. 
Bibrugarh, Nos. 77 and 165. 
Local name . — Bathed sag. The common “ Goose-foot” of English 
gardens. 
Bistrib. — C osmopolitan, sometimes cultivated in India. 
A very variable, mealy annual with thick clusters of small, green flowers. Many forms 
of the plant occur in cottage gardens varying in height from 1 dcm. to 3 m. No steps arc; 
taken to cultivate the plant which is merely allowed to seed. The leaves are eaten as saq. 
Formerly in Great Britain this and other species of Cheno podium were used as pot-herbs hut. 
they now seem to have fallen out of use. Some cottagers told us that if it were oaten too 
often it caused diarrhoea and weakness. A closely allied species, C. guinoa L., yields one -u 
the most esteemed grains of S. America. 
61. C. auihrosimdF Linn F, B. I. v, 4; Eng. & Prantl iii, la, 
61 ; Beng. PL 879 ; B. E P ii, 267 ; Pharmacog. Ind. iii, 148. 
Dibrugarh. Nos. 36 and 301. 
Local name. — 1 “ Mexican Tea Weed.” “ Ilcrba Santa Maria” in 
Brazil. 
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