I9Q2] Robinson, — Polygonums of Section Avicularia 69 



— Maine, York Harbor, 16 Aug. 1893, P. P. Bickncll. New Hamp- 

 shire: Rye Beach, open grassy field, 16 Aug. 1886, W. Deane, on 

 salt marsh, 19 Sept. 1901, W. P. Rich 6- E. P. Williams- Hampton 

 falls, on salt marsh, 22 Sept. 1901, E. P. Williams. Massachu- 

 setts ; : Plum Island, on sand dunes, 4 Aug. 1899, P. P. Williams- 

 Oak Island, Aug. 1877, 20 Sept. and 1 Oct. 1882, H. A. Young, in 

 sand, 14 Sept. 1900, W. Dcatie (pi. 1 m. in diameter), salt marsh, 16 

 Sept. 1899, W. P. Rich; Cambridgeport, on flats of the Charles 

 River, Oct. 1901, B. L. Robinson & M. L. Pemald- Dorchester 

 Cedar Grove, on salt marsh, 14 Sept. 1888, W. Deane; Milton, on 

 salt marsh near Neponset River, 1 Sept. 1883, W.Deane; Plymouth 

 Road, n Aug. 1878, P. & C. P. Paxon- Sea View, Marshfield on 

 shore of salt creek, 13 Oct. 1895, P. P. Williams- Marthas Vine- 

 yard, 20 Aug. 1865, /. W. Rabbins; North Scituate, 6 Sept. 1897, 

 S.Harris. Rhode Island; Providence, 30 Aug. 1893, J. P. Col- 

 lins; East Providence, 1879, W. W. Bailey. Connecticut :' Fair- 

 field, 26 Sept. 1897, and 4 Sept. 1898, P. H. Pames ; Bridgeport, 

 banks of Cedar Creek (salt), 18 Aug. 1898, P. H. Pames; Orange, 

 C. H. Bissell, nos. 985, 12 14, 1240; Cos Cob, C. H. Bissell, no 

 5416; Norwalk, C. II. Bisscll, no. 517 1. New York, Peconic 

 River, L. I., 26 Aug. 1878, P. S. Miller. Virginia, Eastville, 

 Northampton Co., Sept. 1878, W. M. Canby. Also in Kansas and 

 Nebraska, where quite indistinguishable from the Atlantic form. 

 Plate 35, fig. 4. 



This is one of several plants which are often confused in her- 

 baria with P. ramosissimum. It differs from that species constantly 

 in its smaller subsessile flowers and in the shape of the leaves. As 

 found on our sea coast it does not have the yellow green color of 

 P. ramosissimum but is bluish green although often whitened by a 

 parasitic fungus. P. prolificum shows close affinity to P. rurivagum, 

 Jord. of Europe, but differs from it in the habitually obtusish leaves' 

 included achenes, and more robust habit. 



P. aviculare, L. Prostrate or, especially when young or crowded, 

 erect : leaves lanceolate, acute, acutish, or obtuse, not at all rigid or 

 fleshy, bluish green ; flowers much as in the preceding but surpassing 

 the more hyaline remnants of the stipules ; calyx rubescent sometimes 

 deep crimson ; achenes dark brown, dull, minutely granular-striate. 

 —Spec. PL i. 362 (1753); Meisn. in DC. Prodr.' xiv. 97; Small 

 Monog. Gen. Polyg. 104, t. 39. P. Bcllanli, Small, 1. c. 106, t. 40' 

 (effuse form); Britt. & Brown, Illustr. Fl. i. 562; Britt. Man. 363; 

 not All. -Common weed of dooryards and beaten paths, very tough 

 persistent, and tenacious of life. Plate 35, fig. 5. As noted by 

 Meisner the species is polymorphous ; with us occur the following- 

 varieties, all freely intergrading. 



Var. littorale, Koch. Prostrate; stems stouter, somewhat 

 fleshy and a little lignescent towards the base : leaves oblong, thick- 



