412 Polygonace<T. [Polygonum. 



2. P. grlabrum, IVilld. Sp. PI. ii. 447 (1799). 

 Thw. Enum. 245. C. P. 2907. 



FI. H. Ind. V. 34. Wight, Ic. t. 1799. 



Stems 2-5 ft., stout, slightly branched, somewhat swollen 

 above nodes, glabrous and shining, purplish-red ; 1. usually 

 large, 8-10 in., linear-lanceolate, much tapering to both ends, 

 entire, glabrous or slightly rough with minute prickles, midrib 

 prominent, broad, lat. veins numerous, pellucid, petiole very 

 short, stout, stip. about i in., membranous, veined, truncate, 

 not ciliate; fl. numerous, on short glabrous ped., racemes 1-3 

 in., erect, bracts short, truncate, glabrous ; perianth-segm. 

 broadly oval, acute, stam. usually 8 (sometimes fewer), shorter 

 than per.; styles 2, divergent, stigmas globose; fruit. 



In wet places in the low country; common. Fl. all the year; bright 

 pink. 



Throughout the Tropics. 



Very like the European P. Persicaria^ but much larger. The leaves 

 are quite glabrous, but often slightly rough with minute asperities, and 

 thickly gland-dotted on both surfaces (= var. scabrinervis, Hk. f.). 



3. P. minus, Huds. FL Arigl. 148 (1762). 



P. Posumbu., Thw. Enum. 245 (non Ham.). C. P. 2591. 

 Fl. B. Ind. V. 36. Wight, Ic. t. 1800 {P. strictum). 



Stems 9-12 in., decumbent and rooting at base, then 

 erect, slender, glabrous, slightly branched; 1. sessile, \\-2\ in., 

 narrowly oblong-lanceolate, tapering to both ends, subacute, 

 glabrous, very slightly rough beneath, stip. about \ i'l-. trun- 

 cate, nearly glabrous, ciliate with bristly hairs; fl. few, racemes 

 small, lax, very slender, about i in., bracts pectinate; perianth 

 glabrous, without glands; styles 2; fruit very small, broadly 

 ovoid, compressed, brown, shining. 



Montane zone; rare. Dimbula about 4000 ft. (Thwaites). Fl. April. 

 India, Temp, and Trop. Asia, Europe (an English plant). 



4. P. barbatum, L. Sp. PL 362 (1753). Ratu-klmbul- 

 wenna, .S. 



Moon Cat. 32. Thw. Enum. 245. C. P. 3000. 

 Fl. B. Ind. V. 37. Wight, Ic. t. 1798. 



Stems ii-3 ft., erect, glabrous; 1. numerous, 5-6 in., linear- 

 lanceolate, nearly sessile, tapering to both ends, acute, finely 

 hairy on both sides and at margin, stip. \\ in., usually longer 

 than internode, strigose with long hair, ciliate with strong 

 coarse hair as long as tube; fl. on short slender ped., racemes 

 \\-2 in., erect, slender, rather lax, bracts strongly pectinate; 

 perianth without glands, styles 3 ; fruit triangular, black, 

 shininfr. 



