3. S. ambígua, Michx. Numerous tufted stems (3–12´ long) decumbent or ascending from a hard and rather woody creeping base or rootstock, greenish, turning lead-colored; spikes slender, short-jointed, the scales short, acutish or acute; flowers nearly equal in height and equalling the joint; seed pubescent, {1/3}´´ long. (S. fruticosa, var. ambigua, Gray, Manual.)—Sea-coast, Mass. to Fla. and Tex.
8. SUÆ̀DA, Forskal. Sea Blite.
Flowers perfect, sessile in the axils of leafy bracts. Calyx 5-parted, fleshy, enclosing the fruit (utricle) and often carinate or crested. Stamens 5. Stigmas 2 or 3. Seed vertical or horizontal, with a flat-spiral embryo, dividing the scanty albumen (when there is any) into two portions.—Fleshy saline plants, with alternate nearly terete linear leaves. (An Arabic name.)
1. S. lineàris, Moq. Annual, prostrate or usually erect, 1–2° high, branched; leaves narrow at base, ½–2´ long, acute; floral bracts acuminate, on slender branchlets; sepals very thick; anthers exserted; seed horizontal, round-oval, black, ½´´ broad. (S. maritima, Gray; not Dumort.)—Sea-coast, N. Scotia to Fla.—A doubtful form of E. Mass. has the bracts and shorter leaves obtuse, larger flowers on less slender branchlets, and reddish seeds nearly 1´´ broad.
2. S. depréssa, Watson. Annual, decumbent or erect, branching from the base; leaves broadest at base, the cauline 3–12´´ long, the floral lanceolate to ovate; one or more of the calyx-lobes very strongly carinate or crested.—Saline soil, Red River Valley, Minn., to Col., and westward.
9. SÁLSOLA, L. Saltwort.
Flowers perfect, with 2 bractlets. Calyx 5-parted, persistent and enclosing the depressed fruit in its base; its divisions at length horizontally winged on the back, the wings forming a broad and circular scarious border. Stamens mostly 5. Styles 2. Seed horizontal, without albumen, filled by the embryo, which is coiled in a conical spiral (cochleate).—Herbs or slightly shrubby branching plants of the sea-shore, with fleshy and rather terete or awl-shaped leaves, and sessile axillary flowers. (Diminutive of salsus, salty.)
1. S. Kàli, L. (Common Saltwort.) Annual, diffusely branching, bushy, rough or smoothish; leaves all alternate, awl-shaped, prickly-pointed; flowers single; calyx with the converging lobes forming a sort of beak over the fruit, the large rose or flesh-colored wings nearly orbicular and spreading.—Sandy sea-shore, N. Eng. to Ga. Aug. (Eu.) (Addendum)—Salsola Kali. This species has been found in Emmet Co., Iowa (Cratty), at Yankton, Dak. (Bruhin), and in river-bottoms in N. W. Neb. and central Dak.
Order 88. PHYTOLACCÀCEÆ. (Pokeweed Family.)
Plants with alternate entire leaves and perfect flowers, having the general characters of Chenopodiaceæ, but usually a several-celled ovary composed of as many carpels united in a ring, and forming a berry in fruit.