Part 4 (2/2)
=Sheep Sorrel.= _Rumex Acetosella_ L. Achenes usually closely covered by dull reddish brown, finally roughened calyx, which is removed with difficulty; achenes s.h.i.+ning with 3 equal sides, broadly oval, the base rounded, the apex abruptly pointed, sides convex, reddish brown or amber color, corners obtuse, darker colored. Native of this country, though in large part introduced from Europe. Very common in thin sandy meadows.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 41.]
=Narrow-leaved or Curled Dock.= _Rumex crispus_ L. Achene covered by 3 brown heart-shaped calyx-wings, which are 2.5-3.5 mm. long, each bearing an ovoid, acute tubercle; one of them is 1.5 mm. long, the other two smaller. Achene ovoid, 3-angled, s.h.i.+ning, rich reddish-brown, 1.3-1.8 mm. long, .7-1.4 mm. wide, in transverse section the angles prominent, convex sides and angles concave near the base; base abruptly acute; when viewed vertically sides and angles concave near the apex; apex abruptly acute, compare these notes with those concerning R. obtusifolius.
Introduced from Europe. Very common on low land and in meadows.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 42.]
=Broad-leaved or Bitter Dock.= _Rumex obtusifolius_ L. Achene covered by three brown, hastate-deltoid calyx-wings, which are about 4 mm. long, each bearing an ovoid-elliptical tubercle, one of them 1.5 mm. long, the other two very narrow, rudimentary. Achenes ovoid, 3-angled, less polished than those of R. crispus, light brown, 2-2.4 mm. long, 1-1.4 mm. wide, angles in transverse section slight, sides convex, usually in a greater degree than in the specie just named, vertically sides and angles very slightly concave or straight near the base which is abruptly acute; sides and angles near the apex scarcely concave or straight; apex acute. Introduced from Europe. Not very common.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 43.]
=Patience Dock.= _Rumex Patientia_ L. Calyx-wings circular-heart shaped, 4-6 mm. long, one of them bearing a prominent ovoid tubercle; achene ovoid-elliptical, 3-angled, somewhat polished, s.h.i.+ning, light-brown, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, 1.7-2 mm. wide, angles prominent, sides straight, in transverse section, not counting the angles, base rounded, not counting the abrupt point, when seen vertically, the sides near the apex are straight or slightly concave. Introduced from Europe. Not common.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 44.]
=Willow-leaved Dock.= _Rumex Mexica.n.u.s_ Meisn. _Rumex salicifolius_ Weinm. Calyx-wings triangular-ovate, about 3 mm. long, each bearing a large tubercle; achene dark reddish brown, smooth, s.h.i.+ning, 1.8-2.2 mm.
long, ovoid, angles prominent, the sides viewed transversely rounded, the sides of the base as viewed vertically, rounded, straight or slightly concave, near the apex straight or concave. A native of Northeastern North America. Not common.
GOOSEFOOT OR PIGWEED FAMILY. CHENOPODIACEAE.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 45.]
=Spreading Orache.= _Atriplex patula_ L. Seeds are likely to occur in either of three different guises, depending upon the degree of their ripeness or the amount of thres.h.i.+ng to which they have been subjected.
Achenes thin, dull, granular, gray, closely fitting the seed; seed jet-black, s.h.i.+ning, flattened, nearly circular, edge bluntly rounded, and notched in one place, a groove leading from one side of a margined protuberance part way to the center of the face, 1.5-1.8 mm. in diameter. Introduced from Europe. Seldom troublesome.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 46.]
=Pigweed. Lamb's Quarters.= _Chenopodium alb.u.m_ L. Seeds are likely to occur in either of three different guises dependent upon the degree of their ripeness or the amount of thres.h.i.+ng to which they have been subjected. The figure shows these conditions admirably.
Seeds black, dull or somewhat glistening, gray if not pretty clean; nearly circular; somewhat lens-shaped, one side usually more nearly flattened than the other 1-1.4 mm. in diameter, the edge bluntly rounded, the more convex side bearing a curved groove leading from one side of the marginal protuberance to near the center of the face, surface finely uneven, often with a faintly evident radiating striation.
Introduced from Europe. Very common in annual crops.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 47.]
=Mexican Tea.= _Chenopodium ambrosioides_ L. Note remarks under last preceding description concerning different stages of cleaning. Seeds smooth, s.h.i.+ning, reddish brown, to black, thickly double convex with scarcely a trace of a hem-like margin, circular, short kidney-shaped or ovate with a notch on the edge, .6-.8 mm. long. Introduced from tropical America. Not prominent.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 48.]
=Jerusalem Oak.= _Chenopodium Botrys_ L. Concerning different states of cleaning, note remarks above under C. alb.u.m.
Seeds perfectly cleaned with great difficulty, brown to black or gray, when imperfectly cleaned, slightly flatted on two sides, circular or round, kidney-shaped, sometimes with a hem-like margin, on one side a faint groove from the margin to near the center of the face, .6-.8 mm.
in diameter. Introduced from Europe. Not prominent.
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