Oxygonum.^ cix. polygonace.*: (baker and wright). 99 



1. OXYGONUM, Burch. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. iii. 96. 



Flowers polygamous. Perianth-tube in the hermaphrodite flowers 

 constricted above the ovary, in the male flowers almost obsolete ; limb 

 coloured, fi-lobed, marcescent. Stamens 8, inserted on the perianth ; 

 filaments filiform ; anthers oblong. Ovary included in the perianth- 

 tube ; styles i>, liliform, connate at the base; stigmas capitate. 

 Perianth-tube accrescent in the fruiting stage and hardened, with 

 wings or spines on the 3 angles, enclosing the nut. Seed erect, 

 turbinate, ^-angled ; embryo straight, subcentral in the endosperm ; 

 cotyledons flat, oblong ; i-adicle short, superior. — Annual and perennial 

 herbs. Leaves alternate, petioled, entire or pinnatitid ; ochrese mem- 

 branous, truncate. Flowers red or whitish, fascicled in the axils of the 

 bracts, forming long lax racemes. 



1. O. Acetosella, Welw. in Trans. Linn. Soc. xxvii. 60. An 

 annual herb, much-branched from the crown of the root. Stems 

 ascending, finely pubescent, 6-8 in. long. Leaves lanceolate or rhom- 

 boid, 1-1^ in. long, entire or with a tooth on each side at the middle, 

 narrowed gradually to a short petiole ; ochrea3 loose, funnel-shaped, 

 pallid, membranous, loosely clasping, not ciliate with bristles. Racemes 

 very lax, ']-6 in. long ; flowers 2-3 to a cluster ; pedicels about as long 

 as the bract. Perianth-limb pinkish-white, 1| lin. long; tube in fruit 

 oblong, with 3 narrow wings. — Ficalho, PI. Uteis, 244 ; Hiern in Cat. 

 Afr. PI. Welw. i. 903. 



IiO'wer Guinea. Angola : Mossamcdes, in grassy places near the sea-shore, 

 Welwitsch, 1757 ! 



Native name " Azedas hravas." 



2. O. alatuxn, Burch. Trav. i. 548. An annual herb, much- 

 branched from the crown of the root. Stems erect, finely pubescent, 

 up to 1 ft. long. Leaves lanceolate or rhomboid, entire or pinnatisect. 



