Order 3. =Chenopodiaceæ.= Generally herbaceous plants like the Caryophyllaceæ, but the leaves are arranged spirally (except _Salicornia_), and are simple, exstipulate; they are generally fleshy and like the stem “mealy,” that is, covered with small hairs, whose large spherical terminal cell readily falls away; otherwise they are seldom hairy. The inflorescences are generally flower-clusters borne in panicles. Bracteoles generally absent. Flowers generally _unisexual_: with the single exception of _Beta_ the flowers are hypogynous; they are regular, small and inconspicuous, with _single, green_, 5-leaved, but _more or less united_ perianth; 5 stamens opposite the perianth, and a _2–5-carpellate, unilocular_ ovary with 1 basal, curved ovule; but in some genera the number of the perianth-leaves and stamens is reduced to 3–2–1–0. The fruit is generally a _nut_,--thus this flower and fruit are the same as in the reduced Caryophyllaceæ (Fig. 361 _F_). The seed is similar to that generally found in the family (for exceptions see the genera). The floral diagram most frequently present is the same as in Fig. 361 _F_. There is no indication of corolla or of corolla-stamens, which may be supposed to have belonged to the plant, but which are now entirely and completely suppressed. This order appears to have been an offshoot from the Caryophyllaceæ.--The perianth persists after the withering of the flower, and envelopes the nut; it is very variable, and, together with the position of the seed, the form of the embryo, the sex of the flowers, etc., gives the characters of the genera. =1.= CHENOPODIEÆ, GOOSEFOOT GROUP (Fig. 365), has ☿ (or polygamous) flowers, with regular 5-parted perianth (_C_); the embryo is ring-like (_H_). The leaves have the ordinary flat forms.--_Chenopodium_ (Goosefoot). The flower is hypogynous, and the fruit (which is compressed) perfectly free; Mulberry-like collections of fruits are formed in some species (sub-genus _Blitum_) by the perianth becoming finally fleshy and coloured.--_Beta_ (Beet, Mangold, Fig. 365) differs from all genera in the perianth, which finally becomes cartilaginous, being epigynous (_D_). Small, most frequently 2–3-flowered clusters without bracteoles, situated in a long, interrupted axis (_A_, _B_); the flowers and fruits in each cluster are more or less united individually, and fall off together--they are commonly known as seeds (_E_, _F_). The seed lies horizontally.--_Hablitzia_ (_H. tamnoides_). [Illustration: FIG. 365.--_Beta vulgaris._] [Illustration: FIG. 366.--_Salsola soda_: embryo.]