1292 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART II]. 
CHAP. XCII. 
, 
OF THE HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER POLYGONA‘CEZR. 
DisTINcTIVE Characteristics. Leaves alternate. A filmy cylindrical 
sheath, called an ochrea (which signifies a boot), arises from the base of every 
leaf, except in three genera, and surrounds the stem or branch for more or less 
of the interval between that leaf and the next above it. Generally speaking, 
this is sufficient to distinguish the Polygonacee from all other plants. Addi- 
tionally, they have an erect ovule, with a superior radicle, and, in most, fari- 
naceous albumen. (Lindley Nat. Syst. of Bot.) The hardy ligneous species 
are included in the three genera, Tragopyrum Bieb., Atraphaxis L., and Cal- 
lfgonum L.; which have the following characters. 
Tracopy’rum Bieb. Calyx inferior, with 5 sepals, that are imbricate in 
zestivation, permanent ; the 2 exterior smaller, the 3 interior investing the 
fruit, which is an achenium that is 3-cornered in a transverse section of it. 
Stamens 8. Styles 3. Undershrubs, with the habit of Atraphaxis, but 
decumbent or trailing; and the leaves of one of the species, at least (T. 
buxifolium Bied.), are deciduous. In the stamens and pistil they resemble 
Polygonum, and in the calyx Rimex. (Bieb. Fl. Taur-Cauc., i. p. 284. ; 
Lindley Nat. Syst. of Bot.; and observation.) Pedicels jointed in T. lanceo- 
latum Bieb. and T. polygamum Spr. ( Vent.) 
Arrapua’xis L. Calyx inferior, of 4 leaves, in an outer smaller pair and an 
interior pair, the latter resembling petals; or 4-parted, with the lobes equal. 
Stamens 6. Stigmas 2, in one species; style bifid, in the other. Fruit 
compressed, in one species; roundish, in the other. Seed 1.— Species 2. 
Small shrubs, with leaves more or less ovate. (Willd. Sp. Pl., 2. p. 248, 
249., and obs.) 
Catur’conum L. Calyx inferior, persistent, turbinate in the lower part, 
ending upwards in a 5-parted spreading border; the 2 outer lobes rather 
the smaller. Stamens about 16; the filaments slightly united at the base, 
and then diverging. Anthers peltate. Germen 4-sided, acuminate. Styles 
4 or 3, united at the base for a little way, slender, spreading. Stigmas 
capitate. Fruit an achenium that has 4 sides and 4 wings; and the wings 
are either membranous, longitudinally 2-parted, toothed, and curled, or 
rough with branched bristles. C. Pallasi, the best-known species, is an 
erect shrub 3 ft. or 4 ft. high, with rush-like shoots, without obvious leaves, 
with the flowers in groups, and their calyxes partly white. (L’ Héritier in 
Lin, Soc. Trans.,i. p. 177. ; and Rees’s Cyclop.) 
Genus I. 
= 
| 
Le 
TRAGOPY‘RUM Bich. Tut Goat Wueat. Lin. Syst. Octandria 
Trigynia. 
Identification. Bieb. Flor, Taurico-Caucas., 3. p. 284. 
ee Polfgonum Lin. Hort. Ups., 95., Willd. Sp., 2. p.440., Bot. Mag., t.1055., Bot. Reg. 
Derivation. Tragos, a goat, and puros, wheat. The 3-cornered fruits of such of the Polygonicee 
as have them are comparable, with some allowance, to wheat; and goats may feed upon those of 
the Tragopyrum, or upon the shrubs themselves; or it may be that the name has been invented 
as one readily distinctive from the name Fagopyrum, now the name of a genus that includes the 
different kinds of buck-wheat. 
2. « 1. T. ranceoLta‘rum Bieb. The lanceolate-/eaved Goat Wheat. 
Identification. Bieb. F 1. Taurico-Caucas. ; 
Synonymes. Pol¥gonum frutéscens Willd. Sp. Pl., 2. p.440., Willd. Baumx., p.286., Bot. Reg., 
t. 254.; strauchartiger Knoterig, Ger. 
Engravings. Gmel. Sib., 3, t. 12. f. 2.; Bot, Reg., t. 254.3; and our jig. 1161, 
