208 



POLYGONUM 



wide; smooth, pale green. Panicles produced in summer and autumn 

 in such abundance as to envelop the plant in a cloud of blossom ; they 

 are terminal on lateral shoots, much branched, 8 to 1 6 ins. long. Flowers 

 pale pink or almost white ; each J in. across, with transparent ovate sepals 

 in two whorls, the three in the outer whorl winged at the back, the wing 

 passing downwards to the flower-stalk. As these wings persist on the 

 pinkish young seed-vessel, they give it the characteristic three-angled shape. 

 Native of Bokhara ; discovered by Dr A. Regel in 1883; introduced 

 to gardens by way of the St Petersburg Botanic Garden about 1894. No 

 more beautiful climber has been introduced for many years, and its value 

 is enhanced by the late date of its blossoming and the beauty of its 

 young fruits. The best way to cultivate it is to give up to it some worn- 



POLYQONtTM BALDSCHUANICUM. 



out tree which it may be allowed to ramble over* or envelop at will. 

 Failing that, a stout spruce pole with the side branches left several feet 

 long, or some such support, may be given it. Few climbers give so 

 charming an effect in so short a time. It likes a rich loamy soil and a 

 fully exposed position. Seeds rarely or never set with us, and the plant 

 is best propagated by cuttings. These should be made in summer of 

 pieces of the current year's growth, with a " heel " of older wood attached, 

 and placed in gentle heat. Cuttings of leafless wood, made in February 

 with a heel, will also take root. 



P. AUBERTII, L. Henry, is a new species from W. China, closely allied to 

 baldschuanicum. Flowers smaller, greenish white tinged with rose ; said 

 to be not so desirable. 



P. EQUISETIF. RME, Sibthorp, from the Mediterranean region, is well worth 

 growing for its distinct growth and abundant milky white flowers produced 

 in autumn. The plant consists of a dense mass of slender, mare's tail-like 

 stems about as thick as a knitting needle and 2 or 3 ft. high. It needs a 

 warm sunny corner, and even then is often cut back by winter cold. 



