BUCKWHEAT FAMILY. 561 



terrupted, clustered at the summit; achene about i" long, obl,n K , shining. Vermont to California 

 south to Florida and Mexico. 



Polygonum punctatum robiistior Small, Bull. Torr. Club. ai 4 . 1894. 



Larger and stouter than the type, leafy; stem 2-5 tall uly mUmd at the nodes- 



leaves 2 -8 long; racemes thicker, i'- 4 ' long, interrupted U-low; . :,, ni r -lightly rranular' 



somewhat obovoid; calyx-segments white. Massachusetts t.. I" 



18. Polygonum orientale L. Prince's 

 Feather. (Fig. 1335.) 



Polygonum orientale L. Sp. PI. 362. 1753. 



Annual, more or less hispid, stem erect, i-8 tall, 

 branched. Leaves ovate or broadly oblong, 3 / -U / 

 long, petioled, acuminate at the apex, ciliate; peti- 

 oles slightly winged; ocreae cylindric, loose, with 

 or without a spreading border, ciliate; racemes 

 panicled, oblong-cylindric, I/-4' long, dense, droop- 

 ing; flowers large for the genus, calyx dark rose- 

 color or crimson; stamens 7, exserted; style 2-cleft 

 to above the middle, included; stigmas large; achene 

 orbicular or broader than long, lenticular, flat, 

 nearly 1%" in diameter, finely reticulated and 

 rather dull. 



In waste places, escaped from gardens throughout 

 eastern North America. Native of India. Aug.-Sept. 



19. Polygonum Virginianum L. Virginia 

 Knotweed. (Fig. 1336.) 



Polygonum l'irginiannm I,. Sp. !'l \<->. 



Annual, nearly glabrous or strigose-pubescent, stem 

 erect or arching, simple or branched above, i-4 tall. 

 Leaves ovate or elliptic-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 

 short-petioled, acuminate at the apex, a'-6' long, 

 sparingly ciliate; ocreae cylindric, strigose, fringed 

 with short bristles; racemes spicate, erect, terminal 

 and axillary, naked, greatly elongated and interrupted, 

 sometimes 12' long; calyx curved, greenish or rose- 

 color, 4-cleft; stamens 5; style long, cxserted, 2-parted 

 to the base, its branches at length curled; achene a" 

 long, ovate-oblong, lenticular, strongly biconvex, dark 

 brown or cream-colored, smooth, shining. 



In woods, Nova Scotia tu Miinu-ota, south to Florida and 

 Texas. Ascends to 4000 ft. in North Carolina. July M 



20. Polygonum aviculare L/. Knot- 

 grass. Door-weed. (Fig. 1337.) 



Polygonum aviculare L. Sp. PI. 362. 1753. 



Annual or commonly perennial, slender, gla- 

 brous, dull green or bluish green, stem prostrate 

 or ascending, simple or branched, 4 / -2 long. 

 Leaves oblong, linear or oblanceolate, 3"-io" 

 long, nearly sessile or short-petioled, jointed to 

 the ocreae, narrowed at the base, usually acute 

 at the apex, not conspicuously veined; ocreae ob- 

 lique, silvery, 2-parted or at length lacerate; 

 clusters axillary, i-5-flowered; flowers small, 

 short-pedicelled; calyx green, s-parted, the lobes 

 with white or pink borders; stamens 5-8; style 

 short, 3-parted to near the base; achene 3-angled, 

 ovoid, i" long, acute, reticulated. 



A weed in cultivated and waste grounds, common 

 almost throughout North America, Asia and Europe. 

 June-Oct. 



