LXXIX. AMARANTACEiE 415 
Simla, common ; May-October. — Hilly districts throughout India, ascending 
to 7000 ft. — Tropical Asia. 
7. ALTERNANTHERA. Of Latin origin, referring to the 
stamens. — Tropical and subtropical regions. 
Alternanthera sessilis, B. Br. ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 731. A pro- 
strate or ascending, nearly glabrous herb, branching from the base, 
6-18 in. Leaves opposite, nearly sessile, narrowly oblong or 
ovate, 1-3 in., obtuse. Flowers minute, white, crowded in shining, 
very short, head-like, sessile, axillary spikes. Perianth scarious, 
5-parted ; segments ovate, acute. Stamens 5, the alternate ones 
sometimes without anthers ; filaments united at the base, anthers 
1 -celled. Ovary ovoid, notched at the top ; style very short, 
stigma capitate. Fruit a dry, flattened utricle enclosed by the 
perianth and containing a single seed. 
Valleys below Simla, in ricefields or ditches ; July-October. — Throughout 
India, ascending to 4000 ft. — Most warm countries. 
LXXX. CHENOPODIACE^E 
Erect or diffuse herbs, often with a meal-like covering. Leaves 
alternate, more or less lobed and toothed ; stipules none. Flowers 
minute, green, usually 2-sexual, sessile, single or arranged in 
small clusters. Perianth-segments hypogynous, 5, rarely 3 or 
none, more or less united at the base. Stamens 5, rarely fewer, 
hypogynous, opposite the segments, anthers 2-celled. Ovary 
free, ovoid or flattened, 1 -celled ; stigmas 2 or 3. Fruit a utricle 
seated on or enclosed by the more or less thickened perianth or 
bracts ; seed solitary, usually kidney-shaped, with a black, brittle, 
shell-like coat. — Spread over the whole world ; specially abundant 
in Central Asian and African deserts. 
The cultivated Beetroot, Beta vulgaris, and the Spinach, Spinacia oleracea, 
belong to this Order. 
Flowers 2-sexual. 
Inflorescence spiny. Fruit exposed . . . 1 . Acroglochin. 
Inflorescence smooth. Fruit enclosed in the persistent 
perianth ........ 2. Chenopodium. 
Flowers sexual. Fruit enclosed in 2 bracts . . .3. Atriplex. 
1. ACROGLOCHIN. From the Greek alcros, summit, and 
glochin, a point, referring to the spiny inflorescence. — N. India, 
W. China. 
* Acroglochin chenopodioides, Bchrad. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 2. An 
erect, glabrous, branched herb, 1-2 ft. Leaves stalked, ovate, 
