BUCKWHEAT FAMILY 71 



with yellow and terra cotta anthers. It is a common plant 

 of dry pinelands, and is easily identified at any time by 

 its stem leaves, which are green above, woolly and brown 

 or gray beneath, and are sessile in whorls of three to six. 

 The less common E. floridanum has alternate leaves, 

 and nodding clusters of greenish flowers clothed in silvery 

 hairs. 



Eriogomim tomentosmn. Flowers small, white, green, or 

 pinkish, woolly outside, 6-parted, in many erect clusters on 

 upper branches. Each cluster is enclosed at base in a cup- 

 like involucre. Plants 1-3 ft. tall. Stem leaves 1-3 in. long, 

 in whorls of 3-6. Dry soil. Blooming chiefly from spring 

 to fall. Fla. to S. C. 



JoiNTWEED. Wild Buckwheat (Genus Polygonella) 



A tall joint weed of slender growth, P. gracilis, is com- 

 mon in dry places in autumn. The leaves are far apart 

 on the green, jointed stems, and often fall before the 

 flowers open. Other species of low bushy growth are com- 

 mon toward the coast, and in late summer blossom in 

 innumerable short racemes of tiny flowers, which attract 

 the bees. 



Polygonella gracilis. Flowers white, tiny, in many slender 

 racemes 1-3 in. long. Plants 2-6 ft. tall, glaucous. Branches 

 very slender. Leaves alternate, about 1 in. long. Dry soil. 

 Blooming in fall. Fla. to S. C. and La. 



Polygonella brachystachya. Flowers white, tiny. Racemes 

 many, very short. Plants 1-2 ft. tall, much branched. 

 Leaves narrow, very short. Sandy soil. Blooming in summer 

 and fall. Fla. 



Polygonella polygama. Flowers white, pink, or yellowish, 

 tiny, in many racemes about 1 in. long. Plants 1-2 ft. tall, 

 much branched. Leaves wedge-shaped, 1 in. long or less. 

 Sandy soil near the coast. Blooming in summer and fall. 

 Fla. to N. a 



