

POLYGONACEAE. 107 



1. P. Muhlenbergii (S. Wats.) Small. Perennial, generally strigose, creeping: 

 leaf -blades lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 5-20 cm. long, rounded or cordate 

 at the base: ocreae eciliate: panicles compact, 3-10 cm. long: ocreolae ciliate 

 and pubescent: sepals rose-colored, not punctate, about 4 mm. long: achenes 

 2.5-3 mm. long. Common, on muddy shores. 



2. P. amphibia (L.) S. F. Gray. Perennial, glabrous, at least when mature, 

 floating: leaf -blades oblong, elliptic, or elliptic-lanceolate, 410 cm. long, 

 rounded or narrowed at the base: ocreae eciliate: panicle dense, mostly 1.5- 

 2.5 cm. long: ocreolae eciliate and glabrous, or inconspicuously pubescent: 

 sepals bright rose-colored, not punctate: achenes lenticular, orbicular-oblong, 

 about 3 mm. long. Susquehanna river. Bare, in still water. 



3. P. pennsylvanica (L.) Small. Annual, the upper branches finely glandu- 

 lar-pubescent: leaf -blades lanceolate, 4-22 cm. long: ocreae eciliate: panicles 

 stout, erect: ocreolae eciliate or nearly so: sepals pink or light-purple, not 

 punctate: style short: achenes flat-lenticular, 3-3.5 mm. high, shining, short- 

 beaked. Common, in waste places, on roadsides and in cultivated grounds. 



4. P. lapathifolia (L.) S. F. Gray. Annual, glabrous or nearly so: leaf- 

 blades lanceolate, sometimes narrowly so, 5-20 cm. long: ocreae eciliate: pan- 

 icles slender, nodding: ocreolae eciliate: sepals whitish to rose-colored, finely 

 punctate: achenes flat-lenticular, about 2 mm. long. S. Common, especially 

 in the Susquehanna valley. Nat. of Eu. 



5. P. Persicaria (L.) Small. Annual, glabrous or partially pubescent: leaf- 

 blades lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 2-18 cm. long, often with a central 

 blotch: ocreae fringed: panicles stout: ocreolae ciliate: sepals pink, purple, 

 green, or reddish, not punctate: achenes turgid-lenticular or 3-angled, 2-2.5 

 mm. long. Common, in cultivated grounds and waste places, and on road- 

 sides. Nat. of Eu. LADY 'S-THUMB. 



6. P. hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small. Perennial, strigillose in parts: leaf- 

 blades lanceolate, varying to oblong-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 4-13 cm. 

 long: ocreae long-fringed, sparingly strigose: panicles slender, erect: ocreolae 

 short-fringed: sepals deep-pink or* greenish, not punctate: achenes 3-angled, 

 2-2.5 mm. long, shining. Common, in waste places and swamps. MILD 



WATER-PEPPER. 



7. P. punctata (Ell.) Small. Annual or perennial, usually glabrous: leaf- 

 blades lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 2-16 cm. long: ocreae long-fringed: 

 panicles linear, mostly continuous during anthesis: ocreolae fringed: sepals 

 whitish or green, punctate: achenes 3-angled or turgid-lenticular, about 2.5 

 mm. long, shining. Common, in swamps and low grounds. WATER SMART- 

 WEED. 



8. P. Hydropiper (L.) Opiz. Annual, glabrous or nearly so: leaf -blades nar- 

 rowly ovate to oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, 1.5-9 cm. long: ocreae fringed: 

 panicles slender, nodding: ocreolae short-fringed: sepals greenish, punctate: 

 achenes turgid-lenticular or 3-angled, dull, about 3 mm. long. Common, in 

 moist soil and on wet banks. WATER-PEPPER. COMMON-SMARTWEED. 



9. P. orientalis (L.) Vilm. Annual, tall, more or less hispid: leaf -blades 

 ovate to broadly oblong, 6-25 cm. long: ocreae spreading and ciliate at the 

 top: panicles stout, nodding: ocreolae ciliate: sepals dark rose-colored, not 

 punctate: achenes lenticular, orbicular, about 3 mm. long. Occasional, on 

 roadsides and about dwellings. Nat. of As. PRINCE 'S-FEATHER. 



5. FAGOPYRUM [Tourn.] Gaertn. Annual erect smooth herbs, the 

 stems terete. Leaves alternate, not jointed at the oblique ocreae: blades has- 

 tate or cordate at the base. Flowers borne in branching racme-like panicles. 



