284 66. POLYGONACE^E. 



Fl. white, sometimes very few in number. Mountain pastures. 

 P. VI. VII. 



** Ochrece truncate. Root fibrous. Nut compressed or tri- 

 quetrous. Stam. 4 8. Styles 2 3. FL spiked, rarely 

 capitate. FL purple or white. L. without or with a central 

 dark spot. Persicaria. 



3. P. amphibium (L.) ; spike dense ovate-cylindrical, 1. stalked 

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

 rough at the margins, ochrese membranous close, nut com- 

 pressed smooth shining, stam. 5, root creeping. E. B. 436. 

 St. long when floating. Spikes generally solitary and terminal. 

 Fl. rose-coloured. Very variable in the form of its leaves ac- 

 cording to its habitation. Floating or growing upon mud or on 

 boggy ground. P. VII. IX. 



4. P. lapathifolium (L.) ; spikes oblong cylindrical dense, 1. 

 oblong-lanceolate or ovate attenuated at both ends glandular 

 beneath, ochrece close not fringed the upper ones shortly fringed, 

 peduncles and perianth glandular-scabrous, nut compressed its 

 faces roundish acuminate concave smooth shining scarcely co- 

 vered by the perianth, styles distinct at length divergent and 

 reflexed. E.B. l382.a.P.pallidum (With.); 1. all oblong-lan- 

 ceolate wavy, spikes axillary or terminal solitary, bracts auricled 

 glandular, joinings of the st. scarcely thickened. P. lapathifolium 

 R. I. f. 688. 0. P. nodosum (Pers.) ; lower 1. ovate or elliptical 

 even, spikes usually 2 together, bracts auricled glabrous, joinings 

 of the st. tumid. R. I. f. 689, Fries. These varieties are quite 

 connected by intermediate forms. According to Fries, in var. a. 

 the veins of perianth are arcuated and recurved; in var. /3. 

 branched and converging at the end. Height 1 2 feet. Fl. pale. 

 St. sometimes spotted and 1. hoary. Waste and damp places. 

 A.VII.-IX. 



5. P. laxum (R.) ; spikes elongated slender, 1. lanceolate much 

 attenuated at both ends wavy glandular beneath, ochrece loose 

 shortly fringed the floral ones horned, ped. and perianths glan- 

 dular scabrous, nut compressed its faces roundish acuminate con- 

 cave shining covered by the perianth, styles connected below at 

 length divergent and reflexed. E. B. S. 2822. R. I. f. 685. 

 Smaller than the preceding. St. often prostrate. Spikes slender 

 and interrupted (the typical form) ; or spikes thicker and con- 

 tinuous (represented in E. B. S.}, and 1. white and woolly be- 

 neath. Damp gravelly places. A. VII. IX. E. I. 



6. P. Persicaria (L.); spikes compact ovate-oblong cylindri- 

 cal, 1. lanceolate plane minutely tubercled, ochrece loose strongly 

 fringed, ped. and perianths smooth, nut compressed and gibbous 

 on one side or trigonous its faces roundish acuminate smooth 



