Note 245 — {41} Fifthly, Of Plants.

The genera Chenopodium, L., and Atriplex, L., were much confused in Josselyn’s day; and his wild orach may belong to either. Gerard’s wild orach is in part Atriplex patula, L. (p. 326); but the first species to which he gives this name (p. 325) is Chenopodium polyspermum, L. The latter is a rare, adventive member of our Flora (Gray, l. c., p. 363); and the former is, according to Bigelow (Fl. Bost., ed. 3, p. 401), the well-known orach of our salt-marshes: but Dr. Gray now refers this (Man., p. 365) to the nearly allied A. hastata, L. This plant, in either case, is reckoned truly common to both continents. It is possible that Josselyn intended it.