3. SCLERÁNTHUS, L. Knawel.
Sepals 5, united below in an indurated cup, enclosing the utricle. Stamens 10 or 5. Styles 2, distinct.—Homely little weeds, with awl-shaped leaves, obscure greenish clustered flowers, and no stipules. (Name from σκληρός, hard, and ἄνθος, flower, from the hardened calyx-tube.)
S. ánnuus, L. Much branched, spreading (3–5´ high); flowers sessile in the forks; calyx-lobes scarcely margined.—Waste places. (Nat. from Eu.)
Order 86. AMARANTÀCEÆ. (Amaranth Family)
Weedy herbs, with nearly the characters of the next family, but the flowers mostly imbricated with dry and scarious persistent bracts; these often colored, commonly 3 in number; the 1-celled ovary in our genera 1-ovuled. (The greater part of the order tropical.)
[*] Anthers 2-celled; flowers unisexual; leaves alternate.
1. Amarantus. Flowers monœcious or polygamous, all with a calyx of 3 or 5 distinct erect sepals, not falling off with the fruit.
2. Acnida. Flowers diœcious. Calyx none in the fertile flowers.
[*][*] Anthers 1-celled; flowers perfect; leaves opposite.
3. Iresine. Calyx of 5 sepals. Filaments united below into a cup. Flowers paniculate.