DIVISION IV. MONOCHLAMYDEÆ. Part I., chap. 1., § 4 (b). Exogenous plants. Leaves netted. Stems divided into pith, wood, and bark. Wood increased by external layers. Perianth single, or none. Flowers either having one vestment only; or naked, and only separated by small bracts, as in the catkin of the willow, and cone of the pine. The remaining families contain each but one or few genera, those marked (*) are mostly inconspicuous. And, here and there, some giant pines ascend, Briareus-like, amid the stirless air, High stretching; like a good man's virtuous thoughts, N.B.-There are several species evidently belonging to Dichlamydeous families, and described in the former pages, which are yet destitute of petals. Their single perianth, however, is the calyx, similar to that of other species in the families to which they belong, and is usually very different in texture to the single vestment peculiar to this division. The most important are : 1. The Amaranth Family. Amaranthaceæ. Amaranth. Amaranthus blitum.-Perianth in 3 deep divisions, with 3 stamens, Flowers green, in small lateral clusters. Stems spreading; leaves ovate. Waste places and dunghills. Rare. August. There are two or three plants of this family exceedingly beautiful, commonly introduced into gardens, and are inhabitants of tropical countries :-Love lies bleeding, A. caudatus, a popular annual; and Cock's-comb, Celosia. 2. The Goose-foot Family. Chenopodiaceae. Exogenous. Perianth single, generally in deep divisions. Stamens usually 5, inserted into its base, and opposite to its segments, Ovary one-celled, one-seeded. Leaves without stipules. BRITISH GENERA. Salicornia. Salsola. Beta. Chenopodium. Atriplex. S. herbacea.-An Jointed glass-wort, or marsh samphire. erect succulent herb, with leafless, jointed stems. marshes abundantly. Often used in pickles. tember. S. radicans. Woody, procumbent. Found on salt August, Sep Both plants, and also other species not indigenous, are used in the manufacture of soap and glass. Salt-wort. Salsola kali.-Stamens 5, styles 2. A succulent, prickly plant, frequent on sandy sea-shores. July. Soda is obtained in great quantity from this and other species of the same genus. Beet. Beta vulgaris.-Probably, the origin of the cultivated beet. Muddy sea shores. June-September. Goose-foot. Chenopodium.-All the species produce spikes of greenish and sometimes reddish flowers. They differ principally in the shape of the foliage. The most common is White goosefoot, C. album.-Stem tall and upright. Leaves jagged and mealy. Whole plant having a whitish appearance. Waste places, dunghills, &c. July-September. Mercury, or good king Henry. C. Bonus Henricus.-Leaves triangular, similar in shape to a spear head. Cultivated as a pot herb. Waste places. May. Orache. Atriplex.-Flowers monoicious, stamens and pistils being in different flowers. The fertile flowers often of two kinds. Plants similar to the former, but more shrubby, and found principally upon the sea-coast. Sea-purslane. A. portulacoides.-A shrubby plant, upon muddy sea-shores. August-October. Several other species, some of which are common. 3. The Knawel Family. Scleranthaceæ. Knawel. Scleranthus annuus.-Leaves very narrow, opposite, united at the base, upon numerous straggling stems. Flowers S. peren green, minute, in leafy clusters. Corn-fields. July. nis. Similar. |