POLYGONE^E. 301 



lington concurs in the opinion expressed by Muhlenberg, that 

 this is a distinct species. Fl. Ces. 



3. P. tcnue Mich. : stem slender, erect, branched, acutely angled ; 

 leaves linear, acuminate* straight ; stipules tubular, lacerate, with the 

 segments finely attenuate at the extremity ; flowers alternate, subsoli- 

 tary, on very short pedicels. P. lini/olium Muhl. 



HAB. On rocks. N. S. July. &. Stem 610 inches high. 

 Flowers small, white, solitary .and in pairs. Nut acutely triangu- 

 lar, shining, black. 



** Flowers in terminal solitary spikes. Stamens 9. Stigmas 3. BISTORTA. 



4. P. viviparum Linn. : stem simple ; spike linear, solitary ; leaves 

 linear-lanceolate, revolute on the margin ; the lower ones elliptical, 

 petiolate. V .~ IJ ~ 



HAB. Can. and White Hills, N. H. N. to Arc. Amer. Aug. 

 H.- Stem 6 inches high. Spike often bearing red bulbs instead 

 of flowers. ' 



'*** Floicers in axillary or terminal spikes. -Stamens 5 8. Stigmas 

 mostly 2. PERSICARIA. 



5. P. punctatum Ell. : stem branched, sometimes decumbent at base ; 

 leaves lanceolate, with pellucid punctures, scabrous on the margin 

 and midrib ; stipules slightly hairy, ciliate ; spjkes few-flowered, fili- 

 form, at first cernuous ; flowers octandrous, glandular-punctate ; styles 

 3-parted. P. hydropiper Mich. P. hydropiperoides Pursh. 



HAB. Inundated grounds. Can. to Car. Aug., Sept. ^ Stem 

 1 -2 feet high. Flowers white, in one or two slender simple 

 spikes. Nut 3-angled. Plant very acrid. Water Pepper. 



6. P. mite Pers. : stem hairy at the summit ; leaves narrow-lanceo- 

 late, acuminate, entire, somewhat hairy ; 'stipules hairy, with long 

 cilise ; flowers octandrous, in crowded spikes ; styles 3-parted. P. 

 hydropiperoides Mich. P. larbatum Walt. 



HAB. Ditches and ponds. Can. to Car. July Sept. 0. 

 . + . Stem 18 inches high. Floicers purple, in somewhat crowded 

 spikes. Leaves not acrid. 



7. P. virginianum Linn. : stem simple, angular, hairy towards the 

 top ; leaves broad-lanceolate, acuminate, with fringed serratures ; 

 flowers 4-cleft, unequal, remote, pentandrous ; styles 2 \ spike very 

 long, slender, naked. P. bistorta Walt. 



HAB. Shady woods. Can. to Flor. W. to Miss. July, Aug. 

 l^.Stem 2 4 feet high. Leaves large, with hairy stipules. 

 Flowers white, in a very long and slender spike. 



8. P. amphibium Linn. : stem nearly erect ; leaves petiolate, oblong- 

 lanceolate, sometimes cordate at base ; flowers in dense termkial 

 spikes, pentandrous ; styles bifid. P. coccincum var. terrestre Pursh. 



b. aquaticum Hook. : stem spreading on the surface of water ; 



leaves ovate-lanceolate, cordate ; spike cylindrical-oblong. P. 



natans Eaton. 



HAB. Borders of swamps and ponds. N. S. W. to Miss, July, 

 26 



