rOLYiJONACE^:. (lUTKWIlKAT FAMILY.) 44:J 



21. P. dumet6rum, L., var sc^ndens, Gray. (Climbing False 



BrcKWHKAT.) Perennial, smooth; sheaths naked; leaves heart-shaped or 

 slightly halberd-sliapetl, pointed ; racemes interrupted, leafy ; the 3 outer calt/x- 

 lobes strong/ 1/ keeled and in fruit winged ; achene smooth and shining. — .Moist 

 thickets, common. Twining 8-12° high over bushes. 



P. (MSPiDATi'M, Sicl). & Zucc. IVrennial, erect, stunt and tall, glahrons 

 except the loose axillary paniclcd racemes; leaves ronml-ovate, shortlv acu- 

 minate, truncate or cordate at l)ase ; outer sepals I)r():idly winged in fruit. — 

 Occasionally escaped from gardens. (rJapan.) 



5. FAGOPYRUM, Tourn. Buckwukat. 



Calyx petal-like, eipially '» parteil, withering and nearly unchanged in fruit. 

 Stamens 8. Styles 3 ; stigmas lapitate. Achene 3-sided, longer than the calvx. 

 Eml)ryo large, in the centre of the albumen, which it divides into 2 parts, with 

 very broad and foliaceons plaited and twisted cotyledons. — Glabrous annuals, 

 with triangular-heart-shaped or halberd-shaped leaves, semicyliudrical sheaths, 

 and corymbose racemes or panicles of wliite flowers, often tinged with green or 

 rose-color. (Name irom fagits, the beech, and -rrvpSs, reheat, from the resem- 

 blance of the grain to the beech-nut ; .so the English name Buckwheat, from 

 the German biiche, beech.) 



F. EscuLENTLM, Moeuch. (BixKwnKAT.) Smootliish ; Hower with 8 

 houey -bearing yellow-glands interjiosed between the stamens; achene acute 

 and entire, smootli and sliining. — Old fields, remaining as a weed after culti- 

 vation, and escajjing into co])ses. June -Sept. (Adv. from En.) 



F. Tat.yrrtm, (iaertn. ( India-whkat.) Flowers very small, on shorter 

 pedicels; achene very dull and roughish, the sides sulcate. — Au occasional 

 escape from cultivation. (Adv. from Asia.) 



6. POLYGONELLA, Michx. 



Flowers perfect or polygamous-dia'cious. Calyx 5-])arted, petaloid, loosely 

 persistent about the achene. the 3 inner divisions often enlarging in fruit, in 

 which case the outer are usually spreading. Stamens 8. Styles 3, and achene 

 3-angular Embryo slender, straight or nearly so, toward one side of the albu- 

 men. — Slender glabrous annuals or perennials, with alternate mostly linear 

 leaves jointed at the base, and rather rigid truncate or obli(|ue naked sheaths 

 and bracts. Flowers on solitary jointed pedicels (nodding in fruit) in slender 

 panicled racemes. (Diminutive of Pcdygonum.) 



1. P. articulata, Meisn. Annual, erect, branching, glaucous, 4-12' 

 high; leaves linear filiform, deciduous; flowers rose-color, nodding, in verr 

 slender racemes, the calyx a little enlarged in fruit ; 3 inner filaments dilated 

 at base; achene exserted, smooth. (Polygonum articulatum, Grai/.) — Dry, 

 sandy soil ; on the coa.st from Maine to N. J., and along the Great Lakes. 



7. BRUNNICHIA, Banks. 



Calyx 5-parted ; the divisions somewhat petal-like, oblong, connivent and 

 coriaceous in fruit, the base and almost the whole length of the pedicel winged 

 on one side. Stamens 8; filaments capillary. Styles 3, slender; stignuie de- 

 pressed-capitate. Ovule pendulous on a slender erect funiculus; seed erect, 

 6-grooved. Achene obtusely triangular, partly 3-celled, enclo.sed in the indu- 

 rated calyx. Embryo in one of the angles of the mealy albnmeu, somewhat 

 curved. — Somewhat slirubby with grooved stems, climldng by tendrils f ri m 

 the eiula of the branches. (Named for F. Brunnich, a Danish naturalist.) 



