BUCKWHEAT FAMILY. 561 
terrupted, clustered at the summit; achene about 1’’ long, oblong, shining. Vermont to California, 
south to Florida and Mexico. 
Polygonum punctatum robustior Small, Bull. Torr. Club, 21: 477. 1894. 
Larger and stouter than the type, leafy; stem 2°-5° tall, conspicuous] enlarged at the nodes; 
leaves 2'-8’ long; racemes thicker, 1'-4’ long, interrupted below; achene 112"’ long, slightly granular, 
somewhat obovoid; calyx-segments white. Massachusetts to Florida, near the coast. 
18. Polygonum orientale L. Prince’s \ 
Feather. (Fig. 1335.) 
Polygonum orientale L. Sp. Pl. 362. 1753. 
Annual, more or less hispid, stem erect, 1°-8° tall, 
branched. Leaves ovate or broadly oblong, 3/—12/ 
long, petioled, acuminate at the apex, ciliate; peti- 
oles slightly winged; ocreae cylindric, loose, with 
or without a spreading border, ciliate; racemes 
panicled, oblong-cylindric, 1’-4’ long, dense, droop- 
ing; flowers large for the genus, calyx dark rose- 
color or crimson; stamens 7, exserted; style 2-cleft 
to above the middle, included; stigmas large; achene 
orbicular or broader than long, lenticular, flat, 
nearly 114’ in diameter, finely reticulated and 
rather dull. 
In waste places, escaped from gardens throughout 
eastern North America. Native of India. Aug.—Sept. 
Py Se Wi 19. Polygonum Virginianum [. Virginia 
GAR Knotweed. (Fig. 1336.) 
Polygonum Virgintanum I,. Sp. Pl. 360. 1753. 
Annual, nearly glabrous or strigose-pubescent, stem 
erect or arching, simple or branched above, 1°-4° tall. 
Leaves ovate or elliptic-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 
short-petioled, acuminate at the apex, 2/-6/ long, 
sparingly ciliate; ocreae cylindric, strigose, fringed 
with short bristles; racemes spicate, erect, terminal 
and axillary, naked, greatly elongated and interrupted, 
sometimes 12’ long; calyx curved, greenish or rose- 
color, 4-cleft; stamens 5; style long, exserted, 2-parted 
to the base, its branches at length curled; achene 2// 
long, ovate-oblong, lenticular, strongly biconvex, dark 
brown or cream-colored, smooth, shining. 
In woods, Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to Floridaand 
Texas, Ascends to 4ooo ft. in North Carolina, July—Nov. 
20. Polygonum aviculare L,.~ Knot- 
grass. Door-weed. (Fig. 1337.) 
Polygonum aviculare I,. Sp. Pl. 362. 1753- 
Annual or commonly perennial, slender, gla- 
brous, dull green or bluish green, stem prostrate 
or ascending, simple or branched, 4’-2° long. 
Leaves oblong, linear or oblanceolate, 3//-10/’ 
long, nearly sessile or short-petioled, jointed to 
the ocreae, narrowed at the base, usually acute 
at the apex, not conspicuously veined; ocreae ob- 
lique, silvery, 2-parted or at length laceratey 
clusters axillary, 1-5-flowered; flowers small, 
short-pedicelled; calyx green, 5-parted, the lobes 
with white or pink borders; stamens 5-8; style 
short, 3-parted to near the base; achene 3-angled, 
ovoid, 1’’ long, acute, reticulated. 
A weed in cultivated and waste grounds, common 
almost throughout North America, Asia and Europe. 
June-Oct. 
