C 213 ] 



Polygonum Oriental e. Tall 

 Persicaria. 



♦ f »♦»»» ■ ****** ♦ ■ ♦♦♦♦♦ 



Clqfs and Order. 



OcTANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 



Generic Character. 

 Cal.o. Cor. 5-partita, calycina. Sem. 1. angulatum. 



Specific Character and Synonyms. 



POLYGONUM orientate floribus heptandris digynis, foliis 

 ovatis, caule ere£to, ftipulis hirtis hypocra- 

 teriformibus. Linn. Syji. Vegetab. ed. 14. 

 Murr. p. 377. Ait. Hort. Kezv. V. 2. p. 32. 



PERSICARIA orientalis nicotianae folio calyce florum pur- 

 pureo. Tournef. cor. 38. Schovanna-modela- 

 muccu. Rheed. Mai. 12. p. 147. /. 76. 



Of the genus Polygonum, the prefent well-known native of 

 the Eaft, as well as of India, is the principal one cultivated 

 in our gardens for ornamentj and is diftinguiflied not lefs for 

 its fuperior ftature than the brilliancy of its flowers ; it will 

 frequently grow to the height of eight or ten feet, and become 

 a formidable rival to the gigantic fun-flower. 



There is a dwarf variety of it, and another with white flowers; * 

 it has been obferved to vary alfo in point of hairinefs. 



It flowers from July to Oftober, and produces abundance 

 of feed, which, falling on the borders, generally comes up 

 fpontaneoufly in the fpring ; but it is moft commonly fown in 

 the fpring with other annuals : when the feediings appear, 

 they fhould be thinned fo as to Hand a foot apart. This plant 

 requires very little care, and will bear the fmoke of London 

 better than many others. 



Was cultivated by the Dutchefs of Beaufort, in 1707* 

 Ait. Kew. 



The Stipulae on the ftalk are deferving of notice, being 

 unufual in their form, and making it look as if beruffled. 



