Polysonum?^ Polygonacece. 411 



ov. superior i -celled, with a solitary basal ovule, styles 2 or 3; 

 fruit a small nut enclosed in persistent perianth, trigonous or 

 bi-convex ; seed with small embryo lateral in endosperm. 



Mostly low-country weeds, but two species, P. ininus and P pi-ceter- 

 inissum, are found only in the hills. We have no endemic species. 



POI.YGONU2II, L. 



For characters, see Order. — Sp. about 150; 70 in Fl. B. bid. 



I. p. tomentosum, IVilld. Sp. PI. ii. 447 (1799). Sudu- 

 kimbulwenna, S. 



Moon Cat. 32. Thw. Enum. 246. C. P. 2248. 

 Fl. B. Ind. V. 30. 



Stems often prostrate below and rooting at nodes, above 

 erect, stout, glabrous or pubescent; 1. rather large, 4-8 in., 

 linear-lanceolate, the lowest ones sometimes ovate, much 

 tapering at both ends, very acute, entire, silky-pubescent on 

 both sides, sometimes white and velvety, petiole very short 

 (sometimes long in lower 1.) stip. f-i in., hairy, mouth trun- 

 cate, ciliate with fine bristly hairs \ in. long ; fl. on short ped., 

 racemes few, panicled, erect, 15-2^ in., slender, bracts large, 

 very truncate, hairy, ciliate; fruit \ in., orbicular, somewhat 

 compressed, black, shining. 



Ditches, borders of tanks, &c., in the low country, especially the dry 

 region ; common. Fl. all the year ; white. 



Also in India, Malaya, Phihppine Is., Trop. and S. Africa. 



