POLYGCKNUM. 361 



2. P. vivip'arujn (L.) ; raceme slender lax bulbiferous bearing 

 fl. on its upper part, /. linear-lanceolate with revolute margins, 

 lower I. elliptic with wingless footstalks, face of nut ovate-lan- 

 ceolate smooth and shining. E. B. 669. Height 4 8 in. Fl. 

 on the lower part of the raceme replaced by small red bulbs. 

 Fl. white, sometimes very few in number. /3. alpinum (Wahl.) 

 lower 1. oval, root much thicker. Mountain pastures. j3. 

 Shetland and 0. Hebrides. P. VI. VII. E. S. I. 



** Ocrece truncate. Hoot fibrous. Nut compressed or subtri- 

 qnetrous. Stam. 4 8. Styles^ 3. Racemes spikelike. 

 Fl. purple vr tvhite. L. without or witli a central dark spot. 

 Persicaria. 



t Creeping. Perennial. Anthers protruded. 



8. P. amphib'ium (L.) ; raceme dense ovate-cylindrical, 1. 

 stalked ovate-oblong (floating-) or oblong-lanceolate or narrow- 

 lanceolate rough at the margins, ocrese membranous close, nut 

 compressed smooth shining, stam. 5. E. B. 436. St. long when 

 floating. Racemes generally solitary and terminal. Fl. rose- 

 coloured. Stam. protruded or not. Very variable in the form 

 of its leaves according to its habitation. Floating or growing 

 upon inud or on boggy ground. P. VII. 5K. E. S. I, 



ft Root fibrous. Annual. Anthers included. 



4. P. lapathifoUum (L.) : raceme oblong cylindrical dense, 1. 

 oblong-lanceolate or ovate attenuate at both ends glandular 

 beneath, ocrece close not fringed the upper one shortly fringed, 

 peduncles and perianth rough with glands, nut compressed its faces 

 roundish acuminate concave smooth shining scarcely covered 

 by the prominently veined perianth, styles distinct at length 

 divergent and reflexed. E. B. 1382. Height 12 feet. St. 

 sometimes spotted, glandular or glabrous ; joinings more or less 

 thickened. Racemes axillary or terminal, 1 2 together. Fl. 

 pale. Bracts auricled. Waste and damp places. A. VII. IX. 



E. S. I. 



5. P. maculdtum (Trim. & Dyer) ; raceme long slender, 1. 

 lanceolate much attenuate at both ends wavy glandular beneath, 

 ocrece loose shortly fringed the floral ones horned, ped. and peri- 

 anths rough with glands, nut compressed its faces roundish 

 acuminate concave shining covered by the strongly veined 

 perianth, styles connected below at length divergent and renVxed. 

 P.. laxum E. B. S. 2822. P. nodosum JR. I. 490 (not Pers. ?)., 



