Class VIII. Order III. 155 



marked with purple. Anthers scarlet before opening. Nectary 

 a dark, purplish, elevated ring, growing- to the corolla, and sur- 

 rounding the two conical germs. The terminal flower is often 

 decandrous. Wet places. April, May. Perennial. 



TR1GYJVM. 



1G5. POLYGONUM. 



POLYGONUM AVICULARE. Lt. Knot Grass. 



Stem procumbent, herbaceous ; leaves lance-oval ; 

 flowers axillary, subsessile, with eight stamens and 

 three styles. 



A hardy weed growing every where, and even common among 

 the bricks and paving stones. Stem slender, spreading, striated, 

 interrupted with frequent joints, branching ; the joints furnished 

 with short stipules. Leaves oblong-oval, smooth. Flowers 

 minute, white, in the axils of the leaves. All summer. Peren- 

 nial. 

 POLYGONUM TENUE. MX. Slender Pofygonum. 



Leaves linear, straight, acuminate ; sheaths tubu- 

 lar, villous at top ; stem slender, erect, branched, 

 acute angled ; flowers alternate, subsolitary. 



Syn. POLTGONUM LINIFOLIUM. Muld. 



A small erect species with scattered, axillary, nearly sessile 

 flowers. Dry soils. July. Annual. 



POLYGONUM HYDROPIPER. L. Water Pepper. 



Stamens from six to eight ; styles two, half unit- 

 ed ; leaves lanceolate, spotless, waved ; spike fili- 

 form, nodding ; stem erect. 



Syn. POLTGONUM nronoi'iPERojDES. Pursh. 



PoLTGONUM PUNCTATUM. Ell. 



Well known for its intense acrimony. Leaves lanceolate, 

 chiefly smooth, with pellucid points. Stipules loose, glabrous, 

 fringed with hairs at top. Spikes of flowers, slender and nod- 

 ding. Michaux observed eight, and never less than seven sta- 



