liUCKWHEAT FAMILY. 371 



t- •*- Sheaths with an abruptly spreading leafy border (ichich sometimes 



falls off), or else the sheaths and bracts bristly-ciliate. 



*-* Style 2-clpft, and akene somewhat flattened ; sepals not punctate. 



= % Stem rootiny at base, ascendimj. 

 P. Hartwrightii, Gray, Stem very leafy, the leaves narrow and 

 short-stalkid ; steius rough-hairy, at least on the sheaths and bracts; 

 sheaths generally with a conspicuous, leafy border ; tiowei's and fruit 

 like l\ aniphibhim. Wet or muddy i)laces, N. Eng., W. 



= = (T) Stems erect. 



P. Careyi, Olney. Swamps from Penn., X. and E. ; leaves narrowly 

 lanceolate, roughish, tapering both ways ; sheaths niarghied or ciliate ; 

 peduncles glandular, bristly ; stamens 5. 



P. orientd/e.lAnn. Prince's Feather. Gardens and cultivated grounds, 

 from India; with large, ovate, pointed leaves, and 7 stamens; very tall, 

 with ciliate or bordered sheaths, soft-hairy ; flowers in cylindrical nod- 

 ding spikes. 



P. Persicaria, Linn. Lady's Thumb. Nat. from En., near dwellings ; 

 about P high ; upper face of leaves with a dark blotch near the middle ; 

 sheaths somewhat bristly-ciliate ; .spikes oblong, dense, erect, on naked 

 peduncles; flowers greenish-purple; stamens mostly G; style 2-3-cleft ; 

 akene either flatfish or triangular. 



■>-*■ 1-I- Style generally o-parted and the akene triangnlar ; srjials mostly 



duttid. 



= Herbage not acrid nor punctate ivith pellucid dots. 



P. hydropiperoides, Michx. Stems slender, rising out of shallow 



water, l°-o" high ; leaves Jiarrowly lanceolate or lance-oblong ; sheaths 



hairy and fringed with long bristles ; spikes erect, slender ; flowers 



small, pale or white ; stamens 8 ; style 3-cleft ; akene sharply triangular. 



Couimon. 21 



= = Herbage (.'smooth) pu7igently acrid; leaves arid pale sepals marked 

 with pdhicid dots or glands, in which the acrid quality resides. 



P. dcre, HBK. Water Smaktweed. Stems rooting at the decum- 

 bent base, rising 2°-4" high ; leaves lanceolate or linear, taper-pointed ; 

 .spikes slender, erect; flowers whitish or pale flesh-color; stamens 8; 

 akene sharply triangular, shining. Common in wet places. 2/ 



P. Hydr6piper, Linn. Common S. or Water Pkppei!. Low or wet 

 grounds N. ; l"-2° high; leaves oblong-lanceolate; spikes nodding, 

 mostly .short; flowers greenish-whiH' ; stanuns 0; akene either flat or 

 obtusely triangular. ® 



* * Leaves ovate, short-petioled ; sheaths cylindrical, fringed-hairy ; green- 

 ish flowers \-Z from each bract of the long and slender spikes, unequally 

 4-parted ; the 2 .styles reflexed on the lenticidar akene and hooked at the tip. 

 P. Virginianum, Linn. Nearly smooth, 2°-4° high; leaves rough- 



ciiiate, ;)'-«' long; flower somewhat curved; stamens 5. Frequent in 



thickets. 2/ 



« * * Leaves heart-shaped or arron-sluiped, petioled ; shcdttts half- 

 cylindrical. 

 •*- Tear Tiii-mr. Stems with spreading branches, the angles and petioles 

 armed with sharp rcfle.red prickles, by vhich the plant is enabled almost 

 to climb ; flowers in pt'dioicled heads <>r sitort racnnrs, vJiite nr flesh- 

 color. (1) 



P. arif61ium, Linn. Low grounds; leaves halberd-shajjed, long-peti- 

 oled ; the peduncles glandular-bristly; stamens 0; styles 2; akene len- 

 ticular. 



