BUCKWHEAT FAMILY. Polygonaceas. 



Polygonum virginianum has a smooth stem, ovate to 

 elliptical leaves, fringed sheaths, and tiny flowers in 

 color like the next, borne on erect slender spikes often 

 10 inches long. 1-4 feet high. Woodland margins, 

 N. H. to Minn., and South. 



A perennial species with broad-arrow- 

 Halberd=leaved . , r , , 



Tearthumb head-shaped leaves, and a ridged reclining 



Polygonum stem beset with fine teeth curved back- 

 arifolium ward. Leaves long-stemmed, and prickle 



Pink, greenish nerve( j Insignificant pink or greenish 

 September flower-clusters. In pulling up the weed 

 the thumb and fingers are apt to be torn 

 with the saw-edged stems, hence the common name. 

 2-6 feet high. Common everywhere in wet soil. 



An annual species climbing over other 

 Arrow-leaved . .,. , _ 



Tearthumb plants, with a weak four-angled reclining 



Polygonum stem beset with prickles only at the 



sagittatum angles ; the narrow-arrowhead-shaped 

 leaves, far apart, sometimes blunt-pointed, 



September short stemmed, or the smaller leaves with- 

 out steins. Flowers five-parted, pink, in 



small dense clusters. Common in low, wet ground, 



every where. 



A perfectly smooth species, with slender 



Climbing False climbing re ddish stem, arrowhead-shaped 



Buckwheat 



Polygonum leaves, and leafy flower-spikes, the tiny 



scandens flowers green- white or pink, the calyx 



Green- white five-parted. Climbing over rocks and 

 P |nk Magenta bushes 6-12 feet high. In moist places, 

 Julv _ common everywhere. A rather decorative 



September vine but often troublesome in the vege- 

 table garden. 



The familiar buckwheat in cultivation 

 Buckwheat . , , 



Faqopyrum escaped to way sides. From the old world; 



esculentum with arrowhead-shaped leaves, and green- 

 Greenish ish white flowers sometimes pinkish, the 

 white calyx five-divided, and with eight honey- 

 Se^ember glands alternating with the rtamens ; the 

 flowers fertilized mostly by honeybees ; 

 the honey of a peculiarly fragrant character but dark in 

 color. Seed beechnut-shaped. Common everywhere. 

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