POLYGONACEAE 249 



Obs. This, and the next following species, usually grow in com- 

 pany, clambering over other plants, and forming entangled 

 bunches. Both are worthless, unwelcome weeds, in meadows, 

 especially among second crop hay. 



* * Styles 3, akenes triquetrous. 



11. P. sagittsttum, L. Leaves sagittate, acute, on short peti- 

 oles ; clusters capitate ; peduncles smoothish ; stamens mostly 8. 

 SAGITTATE POLYGONUM. Arrow-leaved Tear-thumb. 



Annual. Stem, 2 to 4 feet long, slender, branching, 4-angled. Leaves 1 to 3 

 inches long; petioles % to % of an inch in length ; stipules lanceolate, clasping, or 

 fheathing, smooth. Flowers pale red, with the edges nearly white. 

 Hob. Swampy thickets, and low wet grounds : coirimon. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 



f f Stems twining, not aculeate: flowers in racemes; styles 3, and akenestriquetrouf. 



12. P. Convolvulus, L. Leaves oblong, subhastate-cordate ; calyx- 

 lobes keeled, but not winged. 



BIND-WEED POLYGONUM. Wild Buckwheat. Black Bindweed. 



Annual. Stem 2 or 3 to 6 feet long, branching, roughish. Leaves 1 to 2% inches 

 long ; petioles % an inch to 2 inches in length ; stipules short. Flowers green, 

 edged with white, or tinged with purple, in slender interrupted leafy racemes; 

 pedicels articulated above the middle. 

 Hob. Cultivated grounds. Nat. of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 



13. P. tlumetiirum, L. Leaves broadish-cordate ; calyx-lobes 

 winged on the keel, the wings decurrent on the pedicels, 



P. scandens. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 252. 



BUSH, OR THICKET POLYGONUM. Climbing Buckwheat. 



Annual. Stem 8 to 12 feet long, branching, smoothish. Leaves 2 to 3 inches 

 long; petioles 1 to 2 inches in length; stipules short. Flowers greenish, edged 

 with white, or purplish, fasiculate, in interrupted racemes 1 to 3 Inches in length ; 

 pedicels articulated below the middle. 

 Hob. Moist thickets : frequent. Fl. August. Fr. Septem. 



06. This is thought to be identical with the European P. dume- 

 torum. 



352. FAGOPY^RIJM, Tournef. 

 [So named, from its fruit resembling that of the Fagus, or Beech.] 

 Calyx nearly equally 5-parted ; lobes petal-like, withering. Stamens 

 8, alternating with as many hypogynous glands. Styles B ; stigmas 

 capitate. Akene triquetrous, embraced at base by the persistent 

 calyx ; embryo large, in the centre of the albumen which it divides 

 into 2 parts; cotyledons broad, foliaceous, plicate and twisted. An- 

 nuals : stems finally purple; flowers white, fasciculate, in paniculate 

 racemes. 



1. F. ESCULE'NTUM, Moench. Stem erect, paniculately branched, 

 sulcate-angled, smoothish; leaves triangular-sagittate, or subhastate, 

 acute, petiolate ; racemes compound, terminal and axillary. 

 Polygonum Fagopyrum. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 252. 

 ESCULENT FAGOPYRUM. Common Buckwheat. 



Stem 2 to 4 feet high. Leaves 2 to 3 or 4 inches long ; petioles 1 to 2 or 3 inche 

 in length; stipules often large, clasping, smooth, not ciliate. Ftowert in rather 



