266 XCIX. POLYGONACER, [ Polygonum, 
3. POLYGONUM, Linn. 
Belg ngay hermaphrodite. Perianth of 5, rue E seg- 
ts, all equal or the 2 or 3 outer ones enlarged. Stam 5 008 
Re ing often in the same species. Styles or au uw = 3 or 9, 
with entire terminal stigmas. Nut flattened or triangular, enclosed in 
or Ml by the persistent perianth. Embryo lateral, more or 
less eurved, the radicle superior.—Herbs eroi much in habit. 
A large your with almost the cosmopolitan range of the Order. Of the thirteen 
Australian s, four are common European species extending more or less generally 
over the temperate and subtropical regions of "x globe, five are distribute d over the 
ia, one or two of the 
P to : 
. Species; one more extends at least to New Caledonia, and one to New Zea ands the 
only remaining one may be endemic, although not yet perhaps sufficiently known 
Secr. 1. Avicularia.— Flowers in axillary clusters. Stems prostrate. 
Stems elongated and bk Perianth about 14 lines long. Nut 
minutely granular-stri 1. P. aviculare. 
Pleins short and compact. Perianth under 1 line long. Nut 
ooth and shinin. . . 2. P. plebeium. 
Secr. 2. Echinocaulon.— Flowers in very short spikes on axillary dichotomow 
peduncles, Stems usually scrambling, with short reversed bristles on the angles. 
Single Australian species . . . . , . . , , . . . 8, P.strigosum. 
Sec Persicaria.— Flowers ate, the spikes in terminal panicles, or rarely 
aniitory At ter "eta or axillary, re mbryo cu. reed towards the edge of the cotyledons: 
Nut Jit or or convex on both sides or triquetrous 
Spikes reti mostly axillary. v sim rate 4, P. prostratum. 
Spikes terminal, long, slender and i terrupted, usually single. : 
Stem ace erect. Perianth densely pow tted 5. P. hydropiper- 
Spikes usually continuous and 2 or more in inal panicle. 
er : 
ny we dus any or with pag rei dots. Stem 
endin 
Stipules béidited bF bristles usually long, at least the upper 
Glabrous. | Spikes few and slender wa eoe Ged MAR 
Stri 4 
sassy sei Sp pikes slender, p pdincilais. Leaves j Pi 
gose-hi Sp ike t, hort peduncles. 
. Bristles of the stipules "ni. on pe pe mnn 8. P. barbatum. 
pules te, without any or with a few fine ‘short cilia. 
Apike es compact p o4 5 articuli 
Glare "er nearly so Pilotos fwd fois ade conr innit se 
Cotton Sa Meninet dato at rt coii E 
