ARBORKTt'M AND FItUTICETUM. PAHTI1?. 



CHAP. XCII. 



OF THE HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER POLYGONA V CEJE. 



DISTINCTIVE Characteristics. Leaves alternate. A filmy cylindrical 

 sheath, called an ochrea (which signifies a boot), arises from the base of even- 

 leaf, except in three genera, and surrounds the stem or branch for more or lorss 

 of the interval between that leaf and the next above it. Generally speaking, 

 this is sufficient to distinguish the Polygonacesc from all other plants. Addi- 

 tionally, they have an erect ovule, with a superior radicle, and, in most, fari- 

 naceous albumen. (Lindley Nat. Syst. of Bot.) The hardy ligneous species 

 are included in the three genera, Tragopyrum Bieb., yltraphaxis L., and Cal- 

 Hgonum L. ; which have the following characters. 



TRAGOPY^RUBI Bieb. Calyx inferior, with 5 sepals, that arc imbricate in 

 aestivation, permanent ; the 2 exterior smaller, the 3 interior investing the 

 fruit, which is an achenium that is 3-cornered in a transverse section of it. 

 Stamens 8. Styles 3. Undershrubs, with the habit of ^traphaxis, but 

 decumbent or trailing ; and the leaves of one of the species, at least (T. 

 &uxifolium Bieb.), are deciduous. In the stamens and pistil they resemble 

 Polygonum, and in the calyx /2iimex. (Bleb. Fl. Taur-Cauc. 9 \\\. p. 284.; 

 Lindley Nat. Syst. of Bot.; and observation.) Pedicels jointed in T. lancco- 

 latum Bieb. and T. polygamum Spr, (Vent?) 



JTRAPHA'XIS L. Calyx inferior, of 4 leaves, in an outer smaller pair and an 

 interior pair, the latter resembling petals; or 4-parted, with the lobes equal. 

 Stamens 6. Stigmas 2, in one species ; style bifid, in the other. Fruit 

 compressed, in one species; roundish, in the other. Seed 1. Species 2. 

 Small shrubs, with leaves more or less ovate. ( Wiltd. Sp. P/., 2. p. 248, 

 249., and obs.) 



CALLI'GONUM L. Calyx inferior, persistent, turbinate in the lower part, 

 ending upwards in a 5-parted spreading border ; the 2 outer lobes rather 

 the smaller. Stamens about 16; the filaments slightly united at the base, 

 and then diverging. Anthers peltate. Germ en 4-sided, acuminate. Styles 

 4 or 3, united at the base for a little way, slender, spreading. Stigmas 

 capitate. Fruit an achenium that has 4 sides and 4 wings; and the wings 

 are either membranous, longitudinally 2-parted, toothed, and curled, or 

 rough with branched bristles. C. Pallasw, the best-known species, is an 

 erect shrub 3 ft. or 4 ft. high, with rush-like shoots, without obvious leaves, 

 with the flowers in groups, and their calyxes partly white. (L'Herilier in 

 ///?/. Sac. Trans. yi. p. 177. ; and Reds Cyclop.} 



GENUS I. 



y 



TRAGOPY X RUM Bicb. THE GOAT WHEAT. I.in. Syst. Octamlria 



Trigynia. 



Identification. Bieb. Flor. Taurico-Caur as., 3. p. 284. 



Synonyme. Folfgonum Lin. Horf. {'}>*., !U, Willd. Sp., 2. p. 440., Bot. Mag., t. 105/5., Pot. Reg 

 t. 255. 



Derivation. Tragox, a goat, and puros, wheat. The 3-cornered fruits of such of the Polygonacoa 1 

 as have them are comparable, with some allowance, to wheat; and goats may feed upon those of 

 the Tragopyrum, or upon the shrubs themselves ; or it may be that the name has been tarented 

 as one readily distinctive from the name Fagop^rum, now the name of a genus that includes the 

 different kinds of buck-wheat 



JU -* 1. T. LANCEOLA^TUM Bieb. The lanceolate-feaw/ Goat Wheat. 



Identification. Bieb. Fl. Taurico-Caucae. 



Synonynies. Pol^gonum frutescens Willd. Sp. Pl. t 2. p. 440., Willd. liainin., p. ?sil., /?/ /-'. r 



t. 254. : strauchartiger Knoterig, Ger. 

 Engravings. Gmel. Sib , 3. t. 12. f. 2. ; Bot Reg., t. 254. ; and our fig. llfil. 



