Folygonum.} tXIII. POLYGONACB^J. 887 



all distinct, and the lower ones often distant and axillary. Perianths, 

 and often the bracts and stipules or other parts of the plant, dotted 

 with small glands, and the whole plant is more or less acrid or biting 

 to the taste. 



In wet ditches, and on the edges of ponds and streams, throughout 

 Europe and central and Russian Asia to the Arctic regions. Abundant 

 in England and Ireland, more rare in the Scotch Highlands. PL summer 

 and autumn. 



1 1 . P. minus, Huds. (fig. 879). Slender P. Very near P. ffydropiper, 

 and probably a mere variety. It is usually a smaller plant, with rather 

 smaller flowers, in closer, although slender spikes, and has neither the 

 glandular perianths nor the biting flavour of that species. 



In ditches and waste places, on roadsides, &c., over the whole range 

 of P. JJydropiper. In Britain, not so common as that species, and 

 scarcely extends beyond the middle of Scotland. PL summer and autumn. 

 The smaller, most distinct form is usually found in drier situations. 

 When growing in richer, wet situations, it can only be distinguished 

 from P. Hydropiper by the absence of the glands on the perianth. This 

 form has been published under the name of P. mite, Schrank, and is 

 confined to England. It is not improbable that further observation 

 may show that this and the last three Polygonums are all varieties of 

 one species. 



LXIV. THYMELEACE^. THE DAPHNE FAMILY. 

 A family limited in Britain to the single genus Daphne. 

 The exotic genera associated with it differ chiefly in the number 

 of the stamens and in the number and form of the divisions of 

 the perianth, or in the consistence of the fruit. 



The species are rather numerous in southern Africa and Australia, 

 including among the latter the Pimeleas of our greenhouses, with a few 

 from the tropics or the northern hemisphere. 



I. DAPHNE. DAPHNE. 



Shrubs, or, in some exotic species, trees, with alternate or rarely 

 opposite entire leaves, and no stipules ; the flowers either coloured or 

 sometimes green, either lateral, or, in exotic species, terminal. Perianth 

 inferior, deciduous, with a distinct tube and a spreading 4-cloft limb. 

 Stamens 8, inserted in the top of the tube. Ovary free within the tube, 

 1 -celled, with a single pendulous ovule. Style exceedingly short, with 

 a capitate stigma. Fruit a berry or drupe, the endocarp forming a 

 slightly crustaceous, 1-seeded stone. 



A considerable genus, widely spread over the northern hemisphere, 

 with a few species extending into the tropics. 



Leaves deciduous. Flowers purple, below the leaves . . . 1. D. Mezereum. 

 Leaves evergreen. Flowers green, axillary 2. D. Laureola. 



Several exotic species are cultivated for the beauty or the perfume of 

 their flowers, especially D. odora, D. pontica, D. Cneorum, &c. 



1. D. Mezereum, Linn. (fig. 880). Mezereon. An erect, glabrous 

 shrub, of 1 to 3 feet, with few, erect branches, each terminated by a 



