1. Polygonum.] [1. Pipbb. 



Fam. 59. POLYGONACEJE. 

 1. Polygonum, L. 



Herbs or rarely undershrubs with alt. simple, entire 

 rarely lobed sometimes gland-dotted leaves and ocreate 

 stipules. Fls. small 2-sexual clustered, clusters axillary or 

 in spiciform racemes, with ochreate bracts and bracteoles. 

 Perianth 4-5-partite, more or less enlarged or sometimes 

 fleshy in fruit which it encloses. St. 5-8 rarely fewer, free, 

 often wider at the base and adnate to the perianth base or an 

 annular disc. Ovary free with 2-3 free, or more or less 

 connate, styles and 1 erect orthotropous ovule. Fr. 

 compressed or 3-quetrous, with a hard pericarp. 



Ten species of the genus occur in Chota Nagpur, but they 

 are of no forest importance. Several, however, are used as 

 pot-herbs, and medicines. Among them— 



P. plebejum, Br. Mania, Muni ara K. ; Mnic', 8. A very common 

 diffusely branched prostrate herb with piak flowers in the axils of the 

 leaves, is eaten both by human beings, as a sag, and by horses. It 

 resembles in appearence our English Knot-grass. 



P. glabrum, Willd. Sauriarac', 8 An erect species 3-4 ft. high 

 growing in marshy places |" thick and woody below, with lanceolate i 

 acuminate leaves about 5£" by f (attaining 10'' by 2'' in luxuriant 

 plants") dotted glabrous shining narrowed into a very short petiole. 

 Stipules truncate not ciliated. Spikes dense pinkish 1J-3'' long about 

 2-5 in a panicle. 8t. 6-8. Style 2-fid. Fls. Dec.-Jany. Eaten as a sag. 



To the Polygonace» belongs the beautiful Mexican climber 

 Antigonon leptopus, H. and Am., with palmately-nerv. d leaves which 

 at the ends of the shoots are often modified into tendrils. Fls. bright 

 pink. Three outer tepals accrescent in fruit. Common in gardens. 



Fam. 60. PIPERACEjE. 



1. Piper, L. Pepper. 



Shrubs or herbs sometimes scandent, with swollen nodes, 

 simple alt. entire often unequal-sided aromatic basal-nerved 

 gland- dotted stipulate leaves and minute dioecious Sowers in 



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