Tab. 6847, 
. POLYGONUM $spHarostacuyum. 
Native of the Himalaya. 
Nat. Ord. Potyconacem.—Tribe EUPOLYGONER. 
Genus Potyeonum, Linn. ; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. iii. p. 97.) 
Potyconum (Persicaria) spherostachyum; glaberrimum, rhizomate robusto, caulibus 
simplicibus erectis foliosis monocephalis, foliis inferioribus petiolatis lineari- 
lanceolatis acuminatis crispato-crenulatis subtus glabris giaucis v. pubes- 
centibus, basi attenuatis v. subhastatis et in petiolum decurrentibus, caulinis 
sessilibus, stipulis laxis, spicis cylindraceis globosisve multi-densi-floris, floribus 
sanguineis deorsum imbricatis cernuis, perianthii segmentis 5 oblongis obtusis, 
staminibus 4 longioribus inclusis v. exsertis, glandulis ad basin staminum 
minutis, ovario 3-gono, stylis basi longe v. breviter connatis, 
P. spherostachyum, Meissn. Monogr. Polyg. p. 53; in Wall. Plant, As. Rar. 
vol. iii. p. 52; et in DC. Prodr. vol. xiv. pars 1, p. 125. 
P. macrophyllum, Don Prodr. Fl. Nep. p. 70; Babington in Trans. Iinn, Soe. 
vol. xviii. p, 95. : 
P. tenue, Don 1. c. (non Michauw.) 
_P. gracillimum, Spreng, Syst. Veg.; Cur. post. 154. 
P. affine, var. angustifolium, Wall. Cat. n. 1683, 
P. stenophyllum, Meissn. Monog. p. 52, and in DC. luc. 
P. angustifolium, Don J. c. p. 70, Spreng. l.c. 
I have had great difficulty when determining the Indian 
Species of Polygonum for the “ Flora of British India,” in 
unravelling the synonymy of those of the Bistorta group, 
which includes the subject of the present plate. Of these 
there are three which are very easily confounded, the P. 
bulbiferum, Royle, which I regard as the same as P. vivi- 
parum of Europe, and the north temperate and Arctic 
regions generally ; P. paleacewm, Wall., a native of the 
Khasia Mountains (a species omitted by Meissner); P. afine, 
Don (which is P. Brunonis, Wall.), and the subject of this 
plate. These, though distinct enough in their normal con- 
dition, are not easily distinguished in abnormal ones, and 
are confounded by Meissner and much mixed in Herbaria; 
further confusion being entailed from the fact of the 
nomenclature of Don clashing with that of Wallich, and ~ 
Noy. Isr, 1885, 
