472 POLYGONACE& (Wright). [ Polygonum. 
stamens about 6, nearly as long as the perianth ; ovary compressed, 
orbicular ; styles 2, 1 lin. long ; stigmas capitate ; nut plano-convex, 
1} lin. long, 1 lin. wide, almost black. 
Sourn Arrica: without locality, Bowie ! : 
Coast Reaion: Riversdale Div. ; Corente River Farm, Muir in Herb. Galpin, 
5295! Uitenhage Div. ; without precise locality, Zeyher, 14. 
Eastern Recion : Albany Div. ; by river sides, Miss Bowker! Delagoa Bay, 
100 ft., Schlechter, 12003! 
The type occurs in Tropical Africa and Tropical America, 
IIT. RUMEX, Linn. 
Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual. Perianth-segments usually 6, 
three inner (valves) much enlarged in fruit, three outer unchanged. 
Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the perianth ; filaments short ; 
anthers linear-oblong. Ovary trigonous; styles 3, spreading ; 
stigmas fimbriate ; ovule solitary, erect. Nutlet trigonous, included 
in the persistent inner perianth. Seed similar in shape to the 
nutlet ; embryo on one side of the albumen, straight or curved ; 
cotyledons linear or oblong. 
Herbs, more rarely shrubs ; leaves alternate, often cordate or hastate ; ochre 
membranous ; flowers in whorls arranged in leafy or leafless terminal panicles. 
Disrris, Species about 100. Cosmopolitan, but most numerous in the 
temperate regions. Some of the following have probably been introduced into 
South Africa, 
Inner perianth-segments toothed or fimbriate : fe 
Teeth of perianth-segments hooked .... we ... (1) nepalensis. 
Teeth of perianth-segments not hooked : 
Teeth of perianth-segments stout ...  ....... (2) puleher. 
Teeth of perianth-segments setaceous : Ss 
Clusters many-flowered ... ... «.. ~—«.» +~(3) garipensis. 
Clusters few-flowered oo ee otf ... (4) fimbriatus. 
Inner perianth-segments entire : 
Leaves usually sagittate : 
Inner perianth-segments not warted... ...«.. (5) sagittatus. 
Inner perianth-segments warted oe ick ..- (6) Acetosa. 
Leaves cordate or hastate (see also 14. Woodii) : 
Pedicels jointed at the apex ... ae zee 
Pedicels jointed at or below the middle : : 
Leaves hastate aoe oon aoe eee ve (8) lativalvis. 
Leaves cordate-ovate os ii yay .» (9) cordatus. 
Pedicels not jointed... evs ... (10) aquaticus, 
_ Leaves not cordate, hastate or sagittate : 
Leaves much tapering to the base : . 
One perianth-segment with a small wart... ... (11) Meyeri. 
Two or three perianth-segments with large warts (12) ecklonianus. 
Perianth-segments not warted ..,. ... ++» (14) Woodji, 
... (7) Acetosella. 
