P0LYG0NEJ2. 161 



LVII. POLYGONEiE. 



Flowers apetalous : calyx usually corolline. Stamens definite, perigynous. Ovary reduced, 

 1 -celled : ovule single, basilar, atropous ; styles 2-3 (-4). Endosperm amylaceous. — Leaves 

 entire: stipular sheaths (ochrece) above the swollen joints of the stem. 



The sap is often acid : a colonial substitute for the Sorrel is the cultivated Rum ex ve- 

 sicarius, L. (Desc. Fl. 7. t. 494). The American Kino is a powerful astringent, prepared 

 from Coccoloba uvifera. Several Coccoloba species are timber trees, esteemed for the tough- 

 ness of their wood : the fruit in the same genus, called Seaside Grape, is eatable, but astringent. 



1. POLYGONUM, L. 



Calyx 5 (-3) -partite, marcescent. Stamens 8 (7-4). Styles 3-2. Achenium 3-angular 

 or biconvex. Embryo curved around one side of the albumen. — Herbs; pedicels jointed ; 

 racemes spiciform in the West Indian species. 



1. P. acre, Kth. Stem glabrous; leaves lanceolate, acuminate, ciliolate, pellucid- 

 dotted: ochrere tubular, ciliate ; racemes erect, slender, interrupted below', calyx dotted 

 with glands ; stamens 8 ; styles 3 ; achenium 3-angular, shining. — Mart. Fl. Bras. 14. t. 

 5. — Flowers pale : pedicels at length exserted. — Hab. Jamaica !, Dist., March, Wullschl., 

 in wet places ; Dominica !, Trinidad !, Cr. ; [Pennsylvania ! to Buenos Ayres !]. 



2. P. acuminatum, Kth. Stem pubescent, glabrate ; leaves lanceolate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, tapering at the base, inserted above the base of the tubular, strigillose 

 ochrea, which is long-ciliate ; racemes erect, slender ; calyx eglandular ; stamens 6 (8-5) ; 

 styles 2, cohering below ; achenium biconvex, shining. — Mart. I. c. t. 4. — P. barbatum, 

 Mey. ! Essen, {non L.). — Leaves elongated ; bristles of the ochrese appressed : its fringes 

 stout, 6"'-8'"long. — Hab. Jamaica !, Pd., March, in lagoons ; Trinidad !, Pd., Cr.; [Mexico! 

 to Buenos Ayres ! ; Galapagos !]. 



3. P. glabrum, W. Perfectly glabrous ; leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acu- 

 minate, petioled : the petiole inserted above the base of the tubular ochrea, which is devoid 

 of fringes ; racemes erect, slender ; calyx eglandular ; stamens 6-8 ; styles 2-3 ; achenium 

 biconvex or 3-angular, shining. — Wight, Ic. 5. t. 1799. — Flowers rose-coloured. — Hab. 

 Bahamas !, Swains. ; Jamaica !, Macf, Dist. ; [Louisiana ! to Brazil ! and Uruguay ; Pacific 

 Islands !, East Indies!, China !]. 



2. COCCOLOBA, Jacq. 



Calyx 5-fid or 5-partite, at length fleshy and accrescent to the achenium. Stamens 8 (-12). 

 Styles 3. Embryo axile, straight, enclosed within the ruminate endosperm : cotyledons fo- 

 liaceous. — Woody plants ; flowers racemose or spicate: pedicels jointed. 



Sect. 1. Eucoccoloba. — Achenium wholly enclosed within the calyx. — Leaves leathery, 



inserted into the back of the ochrea. 



§ 1. Flowers pedicellate : pedicels exceeding the bracts, jointed below the top. 



* Calyx 5 -partite ; ochrece spreading. 



4. O. uvifera, Jacq. Leaves cordate-orbicular, often broader than long, glabrous, po- 

 lished, with the primary veins prominulous ou both sides : ochrea glabrate ; racemes simple, 

 filiform, nodding : pedicels fasciculate, jointed about the middle, longer than the flower ; 

 berry obovoid— SI. t. 220. /. 3-5; Jacq. Amer. Pict. t. 110; Desc. Fl. 2. t. 77. — A 

 branched, middle-sized or large tree ; leaves 6"-3" long, 7"-3" broad, shortly petioled : ter- 

 tiary veins not prominulous; racemes 6"-18" long; calyx 1£"' diam., whitish; berry dark- 

 blue, 8"'-6'" long. Hab. Bahamas!, Swains.; Jamaica!, J/., common on sandy shores; 



Antigua!, Wullschl. ; S. Vincent !, Guild.; Trinidad!, Sieb. ; [Florida to Guiana!]. 



5. C. pubesceus, L. Leaves cordate-orbicular, subsessile, glabrescent and rugose 

 above from the immersed veins, rusty-pubescent beneath, chiefly on the reticulated, promiuu- 



