Polygonum. octandria trigynia. 291 



12. V.flaccidum. R. 



Annual, flaccid, smooth. Leaves lanceolate, with cor- 

 date base, smooth. Stipules long, ciliate- Stamens eight. 

 Style three-cleft. Seed three-sided. 



Beng. Panee-rawrich. 



A native of ditches, &c. near Calcutta ; flowering time 

 the wet season. 



Stem scarcely any, but many, slender, straggling, 

 smooth, jointed, round branches. Leaves sessile, from the 

 base of the stipules, lanceolate, with the base cordate, en- 

 tire, and smooth on both sides ; from one to six inches long. 

 Stipules, bristles on the outside ; mouths long ciliate. 

 Racemes terminal, subcylindric, crowded with small, 

 white flowers. Bractes ciliate. Stamens eight. Style half 

 three-cleft. Seed three-sided, smooth, of a dark brown 

 colour. 



13. P. elegans. K. 



Perennial, prostrate. Leaves lanceolar. Flowers axilla- 

 ry, crowded. Stamens eight. Stigma three-cleft. Seed 

 three-sided. 



A native of dry, uncultivated ground, appearing and 

 flowering chiefly in the dry season. 



Root simple, very long, yellow. Stems numerous, pros- 

 trate, from six to twelve inches long. Branches numerous, 

 bifarious. Leaves alternate, bifarious, very short-petiol- 

 ed, lanceolar, dotted with small glandular points, smooth, 

 margins red ; about half an inch long. Stipules sheathing, 

 membranaceous;mowfA torn, and ciliated. Bractes shea.th~ 

 ing, membranaceous. Flowers axillary, peduncled, 

 small, rose-coloured, octandrous. Calyx, the three inte- 

 rior divisions obtuse, the two exterior pointed. Styles 

 three, very short. Seed three-sided, with sharp angles. 



14. P. horridum. Buch. 



Scandent, angular ; the angles armed with recurved, 

 sharp aculei. Leaves sessile, linear, with a cordate base ; 



K k3 



