08 PLANTS OF BERMUDA. 



2. L. Elatine. All annual, creeping, hairy plant ; branches very 

 slender, one to two feet long, numerous, arising from the short 

 stem ; petioles slender, one inch long, bearing broadly ovate, hal- 

 ijerd-'shaped leaves half to three-quarters of an inch long, with promi- 

 uent lobes at the base and a sharp point ; flower-stalks long, thread- 

 like, axillary, given off with great regularity at light angles to the 

 stem ; sepals lanceolate ; spur of corolla straight, awl- shaped, 

 palate closing the throat ; capsule globose, few-seeded. Distribu- 

 tion, Europe and North America; habitat, waysides, rare [e.g., 

 ScaiU' Hill and Causeway). Flowers yellow, with a purple upper 

 lip; May. 



Division III. — Apetal.s:. 



Flowers incomplete, the corc»lla, and sometimes the calyx also, 

 being absent. The flowers of this division of plants are ttmally green 

 and inconspicuous, hut the vmnt of petals is in some eases atoned for by the 

 bright colour of rrtcrnal bracts, or of the calyx. 



Xat : Ord : 55. FolygonaccfB. 



Herbs (rarely trees) with alternate, simple leaves and stipules 

 sheathing around the stem ; flowers frequently unisexual (i. e., with 

 the stamens and ovary on separate flowers) ; calyx three to six cleft, 

 persistent, inferior, usually coloured and corolla- like ; stamens three 

 to twelve, inserted on calyx ; ovary superior, one-celled, with a 

 solitary, erect ovule ; styles one to three ; fruit a triangular nut 

 enclosed in the calyx. 



The garden Rhubarb f Rheum RhaponticumJ has been frequently 

 cultivated, but with indifferent success. 



I. rOLYGONUM. 



Herbaceous plants with tubular sheathing stipules ; calyx Jive-partite, 

 petal'liJce ; stamens usually eight ; styles three; nut triangular, enclosed 

 in xvithered calyx. 



1. P, Fagopyrum (Buckwheat). An annual, erect, smooth plant, 

 two to three feet high ; leaves arrowhead-shaped, cordate at base, 

 sheath membranous ; flowers numerous in short, axillary racemes ; 

 calyx coloured, five-parted ; stamens eight, alternating with as 

 many glands ; styles three ; nut acutely triangular, shining, black, 

 twice as long as the withered calyx. Distribution, cultivated in 

 many countries for its edible grain ; habitat, neglected marshy 

 fields, Pembroke, — probably a remnant of former cultivation. 

 Flowers pale rose colour ; Jul}^ to September. 



2. P. convolvulus (Black bindweed). An annual, twining vine; 

 stems angular, one to three feet, slender, roughish ; leaves one to 

 two inches long, halberd- shaped, taper- pointed, cordate at base, 

 side lobes acute or rounded, petioles half tlie length of leaves ; 

 sheath smooth ; flowers in interrupted, leafy racemes ; calyx five- 

 parted, thr three outer lobes keeled nnd covering the triangular. 



