386 
FOLYGONACEiE. (BUCKWHEAT FAMILY.) 
Synopsis. 
* Sepals mostly 5, somewhat equal, all erect in fruit. 
1. Polygonum. Embryo narrow, curved around one side of the al¬ 
bumen : cotyledons slender or flat. 
2. Fagopyrum. Embryo central, with the very broad cotyledons 
twisted-plaited. 
* * Sepals 4-6, the outer reflexed, the inner erect and enlarging. 
3. Oxyria. Sepals 4. Stigmas 2. Fruit 2-winged, samara-like. 
4. Rumex. Sepals 6. Styles 3. Fruit 3-angled, inclosed in the en¬ 
larged inner sepals. 
i. polYconum, L. Knotweed. 
Calyx mostly 5-parted, the divisions often petal-like, all erect in 
fruit, withering or persistent and inclosing the lenticular or 3-an- 
gular achenium. Stamens 4 - 9. Styles or stigmas 2-3. Em¬ 
bryo placed in a groove on the outside of the albumen and curved 
half way around it: the radicle and usually the cotyledons slen¬ 
der.—Pedicels jointed. (Name composed of iro\v, many , and 
yow, knee, from the numerous joints.) 
§ 1. Bist6rta, Tourn.— Calyx petal-like, deeply 5-cleft: stamens 8 
or 9: styles 3, slender : achenium 3 -sided: stems low and simple 
from a woody creeping rootstock : flowers in a spike-like raceme. 
1. 1*. vivlparuiil, L. (Alpine Bistort.) Smooth, dwarf 
(4' - 8 ; high), bearing one linear spike of flesh-colored flowers, or 
often little red bulblets in their place ; leaves lanceolate, with some¬ 
what revolute margins. — Alpine summits of the White Mountains, 
New Hampshire. July. 
§ 2. Amblyogonon, Meisn. — Calyx petal-like, 5-parted : stamens 7 : 
style 2-cleft: stigmas capitate : achenium lenticular (cotyledons in¬ 
cumbent, linear ) : annuals: flowers crowded in linear-cylindrical ter¬ 
minal spikes. 
2. P. orientate, L. (Prince’s Feather.) Tall, branching, 
rather hairy; leaves ovate, pointed, petioled; upper sheaths salver- 
form j spikes numerous, nodding; the large bright rose-colored flow¬ 
ers open. — Escaped from cultivation, and spontaneous in waste 
grounds. Aug. 
§ 3. PersicXria, Tourn. — Calyx petal-like, 5-parted: stamens 4-8. 
st7jl.es 2 - 3: stigmas small: achenium lenticular, or (when there 
are 3 stigmas) 3 -sided (cotyledons accumbent, narrow) : roots fibrous • 
sheaths cylindrical , truncate: flowers crowded in spikes or spike-like 
racemes. 
^ CJareyi, Olney. (Carey’s Persicaria.) Stem much 
branched, upright (3°-5P high), glandular-bristly ; leaves lanceolate, 
