1292 AKUoiurruM and fkuticetum. PAm iii. 



CHAP. XCII. 



OF THE HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER POLYGON A^CEJE. 



DlSTiycTlVE C/iarnrfcrixlics. Leaves alternate. A filmy ryliiulrical 

 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, 

 tills is sufficient to distinguish the i-'olygonacea; from all other plants. Addi- 

 tionally, they have an erect ovule, with a superior radicle, and, in most, fari- 

 naceous albumen. (Liii<{/ej/ Not. Sj/sf. of But.) The hardy ligneous species 

 are included in the three genera, Tragopyrum Bicb., yltraphaxis L., and Cal- 

 Ifgonum L. ; which have the following characters. 



Tragopv^rum Bich. Calyx inferior, with 5 sepals, that are imbricate in 

 aestivation, 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 yltraphaxis, but 

 decumbent or trailing; and the leaves of one of the species, at least (T. 

 iuxifolium Bicb.), are deciduous. In the stamens and pistil they resemble 

 /Polygonum, and in the calyx 7?umex, (Bicb. Fl.Tnur-Cauc.,m. \}.2%A!.; 

 Lindlcif Xnt. Sysf. of But.; and observation.) Pedicels jointed in T. lanceo- 

 latum Bieb. and T. polygamum Sj)r. (^Vcnt.) 

 ^Jtrapha'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. (JVilhl. Sj). F/.,2.p. 24:8, 

 249., and obs.) 

 Calli'gonum L. Calyx inferior, persistent, turbinate in the lower part, 

 ending upwards in a 3-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, spreailing. 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. Pallas», the best-known species, is an 

 erect shrul) 3 ft. or 4 ft. high, with rush-like shoots, without obvious leaves, 

 with the flowers in groups, and their calyxes partly white. (UHcnlier in 

 Lin. Soc. Trans. ,'\. p. 177. ; and Bces's Cyclop.) 



Genus I. 



LJU 

 TRAGOPY'RUM Bicb. The Goat Wheat. Lin. St/sf. Octandria 



Trigynia. 



Identification. Bieb. Flor. Taurico-Caucas., 3. p. 28t. 



Synonyme. PolJ^gotiiim Lin. Horf. Ujis., 95., tVilltt. Sp., 2. ii. 4-R)., Bof. Mag., 1. 1055., Bot. Beg. 

 t. 25;'). 



Derivation. Tragos, a goat, unApuros, wheat. The S-corncrcii fruits of such of the i'olygonace.T 

 as have them are comparable, with some allowance, to wheat; and goats may feetl upon those of 

 the TragopJ>rum, or upon the shrubs themselves ; or it may be that the name has been invented 

 as one readily distinctive from the name Fagopjrum, now the n.amc of a genus that includes tlio 

 dillerent kinds of buck.wheat 



!U -* 1. T. lanceola^tum Bicb. The lanceolate-feawrf Goat Wheat. 



Identification, nicb. Fl. Taurico-Caucas. 



Synoni/nic$. Polygonum frutesccns Uilld. Sp. Pl.,2. p. 4-K)., Jf illd. Baumz., p. 286., Bot. /ff?-, 



t. 2.>i. ; strauchartigcr Kniiterig, Gcr. 

 JE:7tgravings. Gmel. Sib„3. t. 12. f. 2. ; Bot. Reg., t. 2;>4. ; .ind our./i^. llrtl. 



