OF NORTH AMERICA. 51 



by the scaly sheaths, leaves minute 2 lines long, 

 flowers almost hidden in the scales as long as 

 them and the leaves, estival. 



858. Polygonum rubricaule R. smooth, 

 stems erect cespitose red simple angular striate, 

 leaves minute few remote sessile deciduous 

 linear obtuse, sheaths scariose lacerate fimbri- 

 ate, flowers axillary sessile — hills of Pennsylva- 

 nia,autumnal,very distinct by stems and sheaths, 

 leaves sometimes only at end of branches and 

 then imbricate, stems only 2 to 6 inches high, 

 sheaths red, ciliate of white, flowers greenish 

 and white. 



859. Polygonum nudiflorum Raf. smooth, 

 stem angular ramose diffuse flexuose, base 

 aphyllous, leaves terminal sessile oblong lanceo- 

 late acute, sheaths scariose truncate mutic,flow- 

 ers axillary to the lower sheaths and not to the 

 leaves — in Alabama, stems semipedal, the low- 

 er leaves fall very soon and thus leave the flow- 

 ers naked, leaves half inch long, flowers com- 

 monly geminate longer than sheaths, calix ur- 

 ceolate green obtuse equal to seeds. 



860. Lapathon sylvaticum Raf. Rumex do 

 An. nat. 91. Root tuberose, stem angular stri- 

 ate simple, leaves petiolate ovatoblong flat en- 

 tire acute at both ends; raceme elongate naked 

 articulate, outer calix segments oblong obtuse 

 small, inner segments ovate laciniate, one gra- 

 nular — Western Kentucky and Illinois in w oods 

 discovered 1818 described 1820 as a Rumex; 

 but it belongs to the G. Lapathon of Tourn. 

 Ad. which I have rectified thus, calix double 

 unequal^ inner larger laciniate, one or more 

 valces granular, stamens 6, styles 3. Pedal, 

 estival, root fusiform, radical leaves not larger 

 than stem leaves. 



