84. 38. POLYGONACEAE. 



7. minor Sprague. Coast and Midlands and Zululand. 



(Qudeni). 



8. kraussianus Meisn. Coast and Midlands. Fairly common. 



9. oleifolius Ch. and Schltr. Ifafa, 1,500 ft. 

 2. VISCUM L. 



1. obovatum Harv. Coastbelt. 



2. pulchellum Sprague. Tugela Valley. 



3. subserratum Schltr. Tugela Valley. 



4. nervosum Hochst. Coast and Midlands, frequent. 



5. obscurum Thb. 



6. rotundifolium L.f. Thorn veld. 



7. anceps E M. Thorn veld. 



8. verrucosum Harv. Thornveld. 



FAMILY 38— POLYGONACEAE. 



Herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate v^ith base of petiole 

 dilated into membranous sheath. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite 

 or polygamo-dioecious. Perianth segments 3 — 6. Stamens 4 — 50, 

 usually 6 — 9. Anthers 3 celled. Ovary superior 1 celled. Ovule 

 1 basal, straight. Styles 2 — 4. Fruit a nut. Seeds with mealy 

 endosperm. 4 genera 22 species. 



1. Stamens 4 — 6. Anthers versatile. Stigma capitate. 2. 

 Stamens more than 6 (usually 8). Anthers erect, Stigma not 



capitate. 3. 



2. Outer 3 lobes of perianth in fruit largest, spinous. 4 EMEX. 



Outer 3 lobes of perianth in fruit smallest, not spinous. 



3 RUMEX. 



3. Perianth segments united below into a narrow tube. Nuts 3 



winged. 1 OXYGONUM. 



Perianth segments not united below into a narrow tube. 

 Nuts not 3 winged. 2 POLYGONUM. 



1. OXYGONUM. Burch. 



1. dregeanum Meisn. Coast and Midlands. 



2. alatum Burch. Near Maritzburg, 



3. natalense Schltr. Fairfield, Alexandra County, 24OO ft. 



2. POLYGONUM L 



1. aviculare L. Midlands and Drakensberg. 



2. alatum Buch-Ham. Near Byrne. 



3. serrulatum Lag. Coast to Drakensberg. Common. 



4. lanigerum R.Br. Moist places on coastbelt. 



5. tomentosum Willd. Coast and Midlands. Common. 



6. lapathifolium L. subsp. maculatuin Dyer. Coast to Dra- 



berg. Common in vleis. 



7. strigosum R.Br. 



8. acuminatum Kth. var capense Meisn. Alexandra County. 



9. minus Hads. 



