204 



POLYGAL A POL YGONUM. 



early summer flowering alpine plants. 

 Easily increased by careful division. 



Polygala Chamaebuxus (Box-leaved 

 Milkwort}. A small, neat, evergreen 

 shrub, with Box-like leaves, attaining 

 a height of nearly a foot, or even 

 more, in fine, rich, moist soils, but in 

 poor ones not more than an inch or 

 two. Flowers, in early summer ; cream- 

 coloured or yellow, tipped with pur- 

 ple, emitting a pleasant odour, in few- 

 flowered racemes springing from the 

 axils of the upper leaves. Leaves, 

 oblong- lance-shaped, sharp-pointed, 

 stiff, smooth, and shining, closely 

 arranged on the stems. Alps of Aus- 

 tria and Switzerland, and other parts 

 of Europe. Borders, the rock- 

 garden, or beds of small shrubs, best 

 in peat or very sandy loam, kept moist 

 throughout the growing season. Divi- 

 sion of established tufts. 



Polygala paucifolia (Fringed P.) 

 An interesting and handsome pe- 

 rennial, 3 to 4 in. high. Flowers, 

 in summer ; rosy- purple, sometimes, 

 though rarely, white, large and hand- 

 some, about f in. long, 1 to 3 on 

 stems springing from the slender 

 prostrate shoots which also bear con- 

 cealed flowers. Leaves, of root small, 

 scale-like ; stem-leaves crowded at the 

 tops of the stems, ovate, acute, smooth. 



North America. The rock-garden, 



in leaf- mould and sand, associated 

 with such plants as Linncea borealis, 

 Trientalis, Mitchella, etc., in half- 

 shady places. Division. 



Polygonatum multiflorum (Solomon's 

 Seal). A very graceful well-known 

 plant, 20 to 26 in. high. Flowers, early 

 in summer ; small and numerous ; pen- 

 dent, white, spotted with green in the 

 throat and bearded on the end of each 

 of the 6 divisions of the corolla. Leaves, 

 oval-oblong or elliptical, rather obtuse, 

 glaucous underneath, sheathing the 

 stem. Europe and Britain, in woods 

 and stony places. Thrives in almost 



any position in sandy loam, and is 

 worthy of a place in the choicest 

 border or group, but is, perhaps, seen 

 to greatest advantage when leaning 

 forth from beneath shrubs or low trees 

 on the margin of a shrubbery or grove. 

 It should be abundantly grown as a 

 wild plant in woods. Division. 



Polygonum Brunonis (Indian Knot- 

 weed). A dwarf perennial, 6 in. to 

 1 ft. high. Flowers, in summer; 

 handsome rose, in dense spikes, 2 or 

 3 in. long. Leaves, oblong-lance- 

 shaped, acute, narrowing into the 

 stalk, slightly turned back along the 

 margin, and curiously marked there 

 with cartilage, so as to present the 

 appearance of being hemmed with 

 white thread; stem -leaves small, al- 

 ternate, shortly stalked, and marked ; 

 ocrese large, completely surrounding 

 the stem, brown and scarious in the 



upper half. Himalaya. Borders, 



in ordinary soil. Division. 



Polygonum cuspidatum (Giant Knot- 

 weed}. P. Sieboldi. A very large 

 perennial of noble port, 3 4 to 8 ft. 

 high. Flowers, in late summer and 

 autumn; white, disposed in slender 

 axillary clusters, forming a kind of 

 panicle, succeeded by very handsome 

 pale rosy fruit. Leaves, alternate, in 

 two rows, stalked, broadly-oval or 

 oval-oblong, acute, truncate at the 

 base ; stems erect at first, afterwards, 

 when laden with leaves and flowers, 



gracefully arched. Japan. This is 



most effective when planted as an 

 isolated specimen in the pleasure- 

 ground, or in groups of two, three, or 

 five tufts. It would also do well for 

 association with the more vigorous, 

 herbaceous plants in rough places, in 

 deep rich soil. Division. 



Polygonum vaccinifolium (Rock Knot- 

 weed}. A neat half-shrubby plant, 

 with prostrate, woody, much-branch- 

 ing stems, 6 in. high. Flowers, late in 

 summer and in autumn ; bright rose, 



