372 POLTGONACEJE. (BUCKWHEAT FAMILY.) 



in their place); leaves lanceolate. Alpine summits of the White Mountains, 

 New Hampshire, shore of Lake Superior, and northward. (Ku.) 



2. AMBLY6GONON, Mcisn. Calyx petal-like, ^-parted: stamens 1 : style 2- 

 cleft: stigmas capitate : achenhtm lenticular (cotyledons incumbent, linear: albumen 

 floury) : annuals : flowers crowded in linear-cylindrical terminal a>n'k<s. 



2. P. OKIENTALE, L. (PRINCE'S FEATHER.) Tall, branching rather 

 hairy; leaves ovate, pointed, petioled; upper sheaths salver-form; spikes nu- 

 merous, nodding ; the large bright rose-colored flowers open. Sparingly 

 escaped from cultivation into waste grounds. Aug., Sept. (Adv. from Eu.) 



$3. PERSICARIA, Tourn. Calyx petal-like, 5-parted: stamens 4-8: styles 

 2-3 or 2-3-clefl: stigmas capitate, often small: achenium lenticular, or (when 

 there are 3 stiamas) 3-sided (cotyledons accumbent, narrow: albumen hard and 

 horny) : roots flbrous: sheaths cylindrical, truncate: flowers crowded in spikes or 

 spike-like racemes. 



* S heat/is naked: styles 2, or 2-cleft: achenium flat or lenticular. 

 *- Stamens 5 : spike mostly solitary, very dense : flowers rose-red: root perennial. 



3. P. aiiipBlibium, L. (WATER PERSICARIA.) Leaves elliptical- 

 lanceolate or oblong, pointed or obtusish, either narrowed or rather heart-shaped 

 at the base. Var. 1, AQUATICDM, L., is floating or procumbent in soft mud, 

 rooting, and nearly smooth, as well as the long-petiolcd often obtuse floating 

 leaves. (P. coccincum, Bigel. P. fltiitans, Eaton.) A^ar. 2. TERRESTRE is 

 more or less hairy or bristly, with an upright or ascending stem, growing in 

 marshy or muddy places ; the leaves acute or pointed, upper very short-petioled. 

 Ponds or their low borders ; common, especially northward. July, Aug. 

 Very variable in foliage, &c. : spike oblong, l'-3' long, J'-' thick. (Eu.) 



- - Stamens 6 or 8 : spikes someichat panicled, oblong or linear, densely flowered: 

 flowers rose or fl.esh-color : root annual. 



4. P. nodosiim, Pcrs., var. incarnatum. Stem upright (2 -4 

 high), smooth below, the branches above, peduncles, frc. roufjhened with scattered 

 sessile glands; leaves rough on the midrib and margins, elongated-lanceolate 

 (4' -10' long, I' -3' wide below), tapering gradually from towards the base to a 

 narrow point; spikes linear, nodding, becoming slender (l'-3' long); stamens 

 6; style 2-parled, both included; achenium with concave sides. (P. incarnatum, 

 Ell. P. lapathifolium, Amer. auth.) Moist places, Conn. <fee, to Kentucky, 

 and common southward. Aug. - Sept. Sheaths rather long, perfectly smooth 

 and naked on the margin. This is not P. lapathifolium, bat falls under P. no- 

 dosum as the species are lately distinguished by Mcisner : oui plant is appar- 

 ently indigenous, and so different from the European that it should perhaps be 

 admitted as a species under Elliott's name. 



5. P. PciinsylVHliiciim, L. Stem upright (l-3 high), smooth 

 below, the bram-ltcs above, and esprciaU;/ the peduncles, beset, icitli bristly-stalked 

 ijlandft: leaves lanceolate, a little rough on the midrib and margins (li'~ 5' long) ; 

 if////-/-.-,- (ilitom/, (ilttnttc (l'-2' long), erect, thick ; stamens mostly 8, s<,ni--<r!nit < ., 



style Z-clcft ; achenium with flat sides. Moist soil, in open waste placet;; 

 mon. July -Oct. 



