640 POLYGONUM. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. POLYGONUM. 



and also in the size of its flowers. It grows 

 2 to 3 feet in height, the leaves in whorls 

 of three or more ; the flowers, in pairs in 

 the axils of the leaves, are clear rose- 

 coloured and very pretty amongst the 

 narrow green foliage. N. Asia. 



P. VERTICILLATUM. From the temper- 

 ate Himalayas, and general in the northern 

 hemisphere. It was found in Perthshire, 

 Scotland, in 1792, and appears to have 

 been cultivated by John Tradescant, jun., 

 as early as 1656 ; 2 to 3 feet high under 

 cultivation, the leaves four to eight in a 

 whorl ; the flowers, two to three in a 

 bunch in the axils of the leaves, are green- 

 ish-white. The fruits are red when ripe, 

 and remain hanging after the leaves have 

 fallen. 



POLYGONUM (Knotweed}. K 

 vast family, comprising 150 species of 

 world- wide distribution, the majority 



Polygonum sachalinense. 



insignificant weeds, but with several 

 noble plants well worth considering for 

 their beauty of form. They thrive in 

 any soil ; those of a bushy habit 

 should be allowed plenty of space. 

 Confinement mars their beauty, which 

 lies in the many flower-spikes rising 

 above a gracefully developed mass of 

 foliage reaching to the ground. 



P. AFFINE. An alpine plant of the 

 Himalayas, where it grows on the wet river 

 banks and meadows, and hangs in rosy 

 clumps from moist precipices. In culti- 

 vation it is 6 to 8 inches high, with rosy-red 

 flowers in dense spikes borne freely in 

 September and October. P. Brunonis is 

 similar and as desirable ; the flowers, of 

 a pale rose or flesh colour, borne in dense 

 erect spikes nearly 18 inches high, and 

 continuing more or less through the 

 summer. 



P. BALDSCHUANICUM. A plant of value 

 for draping low trees and bushes. Its 

 sprays of rose-flushed flowers come in 

 quantity with pretty effect during summer 

 and autumn. Too often it is set to climb 

 an upright pillar, but is prettier left to 

 grow freely among shrubs or along a 

 stretch of sunny fencing, finding its own 

 way gracefully. Its rosy fruits as well as 

 its flowers make it a bright object for 

 weeks together. C. Asia. 



P. CILINODE. A climbing kind from 

 N. America, of great vigour, a single 

 plant covering many square yards in a 

 season, with myriads of small white 

 flowers of charming effect in autumn. 

 For covering trees, thrusting its way 

 through bushes, or to adorn a hedgeside, 

 this is one of the best, not being averse 

 to shade. 



P. CUSPIDATUM (Japan Knotweed). 

 Of fine graceful habit, its creamy-white 

 flowers borne in profusion. It should be 

 grown apart on the turf or in the wild 

 garden. It is easier to plant than to 

 get rid of in the flower garden ; a rank 

 weed, right in copse or pond side. 



P. MULTIFLORUM. A tuberous-rooted 

 kind from China and Japan, with shining 

 deep-green leaves and loosely spreading 

 bunches of tiny white flowers on reddish 

 stems. Its chief merit is its great vigour 

 in rough places of the wild garden, or to 

 hide unsightly objects in a short time. 



P. ORIENTALE (Persicary). An annual 

 kind, easily raised from seed, and some- 

 times self - sown in old gardens. It is 

 mainly useful for bold temporary planting, 

 reaching a height of several feet within a 

 few weeks, and its white or rosy-purple 

 flowers are of some effect in autumn. 



P. POLYSTACHYUM. A Himalayan plant 

 much confused with P. molle, to which it is 

 superior. It never grows high, and from 

 late in September carries a mass of spread- 

 ing plume - like sprays of white flowers, 

 with a scent of honey, and lasting for 

 several weeks. It needs quite a sharp 

 November frost to check it, and its stout 

 leafy stems, with their olive-green leaves 

 threaded with red veins, are neat all the 

 summer, and its roots do not run. 



P. SACHALINENSE. A huge perennial 

 with bright green leaves upwards of a foot 

 in length, the flowers greenish-white, in 

 slender drooping racemes. It thrives in a 

 moist soil near water, where it is effective, 



