DOCK, _ Ri 
As the ovary ripens to fruit the three inner perianth-leayes 
enlarge very considerably, and close over it. The fruit is a 
3-angled nut containing 1 seed, which has a shightly-curved 
embryo in the midst of a mass of mealy endosperm. 
Pig. 152. Fruit of 
the Deck rea- 
Fig. 153. Fruit of 
Fig. idi. Fruit of the moved from img WARE OL An 
Dock enclosed in its perianth - net section 
the persistent peri- (mag.). (mag.). 
anth (mag.). 
Compare with this the common (Sheep's) Sorrel (Rumew acetosella), 
which is such a pest in cultivated land. Note the hastate (spear-shaped) 
leaves (see PI. IIL, fig. 9) and the dicscious flowers, which in structure are 
very similar to those of the Dock. 
Closely allied to this type also are Rhubarb (Rheum) and Buckwheat 
(Hagopyrui), the former universally and the latter occasionally cultivated 
in. this colony. ’ 
Muhlenbeckia adpressa, » common climbing plant at the 
edges of the bush, is another near ally. Its flowers are com- 
monly dicecious, and are clustered in short spikes ar ‘anged 
in panicles. The peculi- 
arity of the plant consists 
in its 5-lobed perianth not 
only remaining persistent, 
but becoming succulent in 
fruit, recalling in this re- 
spect the structure of the 
Big. 155. Fruit of 
iruit (pseudocarp) of tutu. Fig. 154, Fruit of Muhlendeckia 
The black nut is usually Muhlenbeckia en- Pe nOVEL 
pet oe oe closed in the of the peri. 
4-Wwinged, but contains fleshy perianth anth,  longi- 
only a single erect seed. (mag.). tudinal  sec- 
tion (mag.). 
Dhe following plants should, if possible, be examined, but owing to 
the small size of the flowers their structure cannot be wel! made out 
unless with the aid of a dissecting microscope of fairly high power: 
Beetroot (Beta), Goosefoot or Fat Hen (Chenopodium), and Spinach 
(Spinacia). Compare the seeds with those of Chickweed (p. 24): all agree 
ia possessing a curved embryo surrounding mealy endosperm. Closely 
allied to these is Salicornia indica, a common plant on mud-flats near 
the sea, having fleshy, jointed, leafless stems, and flowers much reduced 
in strueture. ' 
Lhe genus Pimelea is common in many parts of the colony, 
‘he plants are frequently mistaken for Veronicas, owing to 
6 
