146 POLYGONACEJ:. PoLYGONUJi. 



§ 1. Albumen farinaceous. 



* Ambltoodon, Meisn. Stamens 5 - 7 : style 2-cleft: achenium lenticular, acuminate, the margin rounded : cotyledoni 

 acaimbent, narrow. — Annual : jlowers in croicded spikes : ochreie cylindrical. 



1. Polygonum Orientale, Linn. Prince s^foather. 



Stem erect, paniculately branched, hairy ; leaves ovate, acuminate ; ochreae salver-form ; 

 spikes terminal, nodding, on hairy peduncles ; flowers heptandrous. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 362 ; 

 Bot. mag. «. 213 ; Pursli, Jl. 1. p. 272 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 257 ; Torr. Jl. 1. p. 405 ; Meisn. 

 I. c. p. 53 ; Beck, bot. p. 302 ; Darlingt. Jl. Cest. p. 251. 



Stem 4-6 feet high, paniculated and loosely branched above. Leaves 4-6 inches long 

 and 2-3 inches or more wide, softly pubescent, on long petioles. Ochreae hairy and ciliate ; 

 the limb spreading or reflexed. Spikes numerous, cylindrical ; the flowers crowded, large 

 and spreading, bright rose-color. Styles united below. Achenium nearly orbicular, blackish. 



Waste places, cultivated grounds, etc. ; almost naturalized in some places. July - Sep- 

 tember. 



•♦ Paqoptedm, Tourn. Flowers octandrous : styles 3 : achenium triquetrous : cotyledons broad, folded and twisted, — 

 Flowers in racemes or panicles : ochrete semicylindrical. 



2. Polygonum Fagopyrum, Linn. Buckwheat, 



Stem erect, paniculately branched, smooth; leaves cordate -sagittate, acute; racemes 

 paniculate ; flower with eight glands between the insertion of the stamens ; achenium twice 

 as long as the calyx , the angles acute, entire. — Linn. sp. I. p. 364 ; Engl. bot. t. 1044 ; 

 Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 159 ; Meisn. I. c. p. 61. t. 4. /. R. ; Beck, bot. p. 303 ; Darlingt. Jl, 

 Cest. p. 252. 



Annual. Stem 2-3 feet high, reddish purple when old, pubescent about the joints. 

 Leaves broader than long, on long petioles. Flowers white, tinged with green and rose-color. 

 Achenium dark brown and somewhat clouded. 



Fields ; remaining as a weed where the plant has been cultivated. June — September. 

 Originally from Central Asia. 



♦»♦ TmiAHiA, Meisn. Flowers mostly octandrous : styles 3 (rarely 2), or none : stigmas capitate : achenium triquetrous, 

 {rarely somewhat compressed), covered by the calyx : cotyledons accumbent. — Stems limning or climbing : fiowers in 

 spicate racemes, panicles or heads. 



f Stem tunning : leaves cordate or cordate-sagittate : Jlowers in rcKemes or racemose panicles : bracts and ochreae semicylindrical. 



3. Polygonum Convolvulus, Linn. Black Bindweed. 



Stem twining or prostrate, roughish ; leaves somewhat hastate-cordate, acuminate ; flowers 

 in slender axillary racemes ; calyx-segments keeled, not winged, veinless ; ochreae naked ; 

 achenium granular-striate, the sides ovate-triangular. — Linn. sp. l.p. 364 ; Engl. bot. ^ 941 ; 



