96 MEMOIRS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE. 
[PLATE 35. ] 
35. Polygonum Shastense Brewer. 
Polygonum Shastense Brewer in A. Gray, Proc. Am. Acad. 8: 400 (1872); 8. Watson 
Am. Nat. 7: 664, Bot. Calif. 2:11; Greene, Fl. Francis. 133. 
Perennial by a large and thick root, stout, woody, glabrous throughout. Stem 
prostrate or ascending, 1-3 dm. long, much branched from the base and throughout, 
covered with a loose scaly bark, naked below, leafy for about 5 em. from the ends of the 
branches, internodes very short; leaves oblong or oblanceolate, .5-1 em. long, .3-.5 em. 
broad, obtuse or acutish, sessile, acuminate or acute at the base, more or less plicate with 
two lateral impressions, conspicuously articulated at the junction with the ocreae; ocreae 
funnelform, 4-7 mm. long, two-parted, sometimes contiguous and imbricated, inconspicu- 
ous, the segments acute, very thin and silvery, the upper parts either falling away or 
becoming lacerate; inflorescence axillary, consisting of clusters of two or three flowers; 
pedicels 2-2.5 mm. long; calyx rose-colored or red, 4 mm. long, five-parted to near the 
base, the segments obovate, obtuse, each with a dark rib; stamens eight, included; fila- 
ments strongly dilated at the base; style .4 mm. long, three-parted, apparently formed 
by the splitting of the apex of the achene, the divisions spreading; achene triquetrous. 
3.5-4 mm. long, narrowly oblong or ovoid, acuminate at both ends, chestnut-colored, 
smooth and shining. 
Alpine parts of the Sierra Neyada in California. 
