66 POLYGONUM. No. 76. 



HISTORY. This genus includes the genera Fago- 

 , pyrum or Buckwheat, Persicaria and Hdxine^ united 

 bj Linnaeus with little propriety, The Persicaria with 

 two styles and a lenticular seed, form a very distinct 

 subgenus at least The Fagopyrum has an equal pe- 

 ri^one, with a glandular nectarium- Polygonum means 

 with many knots- This species is found every where 

 in Europe and America, m fields, blossoming all the 

 year round. 



PROPERTIES. The whole plant is astringent, vul- 

 nerary, diuretic, subtonic, &c. although it has little 

 smell and taste. It is useful in wounds, faintness, 

 dropsies, prolapsus, hemorrhagy, and whenever mild 

 astringents are re*quired* In China, it is used as well 

 as the A chinense and F. harbatum^ to die of a black 

 and brown color. The P. convoloulus^ distinguished by 

 climbing stems and sagitate leaves, is called ChizahaWy 

 by the Osages, and is used in dropsies, producing a pro- 

 fuse diuresis ; large doses of a tea are taken i the 

 leaves are smoked as a luxury and a fine tobacco* The 

 P. bistortay found in Long Island, according to Schoepf, 

 is an officinal plant of Europe ; the root is a strong as- 

 tringent and styptic, equal to Geranium and Statice^ 

 useiul in dysentery, leucorrhea, hemorrhagy of the sto- 

 mach and uterus, &c. 



The Polygonum persicaria^ (or Persicaria maculatd) 



is figured here No. 7^^ fig, 2. It has, as well as the 

 other species of Persicaria (called Asmart, Smartweed, 

 and Water-pepper) very strong properties, is an acrid 

 diuretic, burning the tongue and even the skin, rubefa- 

 cient, vermifuge, stimulant, incisive, &c. They have 

 been much used in gravel, commonly infused in wine j 

 are said to have cured odontalgy, sores of the ear, and 

 aphthous sore mouth. Cutler relates, that the ashes make 

 a soap which has been used as a nostrum to dissolve the 

 stone in the bladder. Their tea is good in gravel, coughs, 

 colds, and a good vermifuge. All cattle avoid them ; 

 they kill fish in ponds, and even snakes fear them. They 

 die wool of a fine yellow, with alum ; called Curage in 

 Louisiana, and much esteemed. Schoepf says they 

 cure the ulcers and sores of horses. The P- persicaria 

 grows near waters all over the United States^ and is 



