NEW SPECIES OF POLYGONUM. 197 
somewhat local plant of middle-western California. The 
corollas in this present plant are among the largest and 
most beautiful in the genus. 
NEw SPECIES OF POLYGONUM. 
First in the following series are proposed new members of 
the Bistorta section of the genus; segregates, they may be 
deemed, of P. bistortoides and P. viviparum; a group in which 
the roots are among the most essential organs; and yet, per- 
haps one-half of the numerous specimens preserved in the 
herbaria show no trace of the root. And, inasmuch as I de- 
cline to name species of which the root is unknown, there 
will still remain, especially in the U. S. Herbarium, num- 
erous sheets which I dare not refer to any of the published 
species. 
E LINEARIFOLIUM. Stem 18 inches high, very erect, from 
a stout contorted but neither fibrous nor chaffy-coated root: 
lowest leaves 3 to 8 inches long, oblong-linear and linear, 
then, tapering to both ends, scabrous beneath, the veinlets 
above becoming raised and prominent near the somewhat 
revolute margin; midvein beneath broad, flat, 2-striate; 
cauline leaves 2 inches long or more, still narrower than the 
basal, and auricled: spike ovoid, ? inch high; bracts ovate, 
cuspidately acuminate. 
Such are the characters of the plant named in the King’s 
Expedition Botany by S. Watson P. Bistorta, var. linearifo- 
lium and there too imperfectly described. The existence of 
Several other good species having the character of linear 
leaves has rendered needful this more detailed description. 
The type, according to Mr. Watson’s notes, is from the East 
Humboldt Mountains, Nevada, and a good specimen, very 
likely the actual type, is well preserved in the U.S. Her- 
arium. 
