BUCKWHEAT FAMILY. Poiygonaceas. 



A perennial species with broad-arrovv- 

 head-shaped leaves, and a ridged reclining 

 stem beset with fine teeth curved back- 

 ward. Leaves long-stemmed, and prickle 

 nerved. Insignificant pink or greenish 

 flower-clusters. In pulling up the weed 

 the thumb and fingers are apt to be torn 



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



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



An annual species climbing over other 

 plants, with a weak four-angled reclining 

 stem beset with prickles only at the 

 angles ; the narrow-arrowhead-shaped 

 leaves, far apart, sometimes blunt-pointed, 

 short stemmed, or the smaller leaves with- 

 out stems. Flowers five-parted, pink, in 

 clusters. Common in low, wet ground. 



Halberd°ieaved 

 Tearthumb 



Polygonum 

 arifoliuni 

 Pink, greenish 

 July- 

 September 



Arrow-leaved 

 Tearthumb 

 Polygonum 

 sagittatum 

 Pink 

 July- 

 September 



small dense 



everywhere. 



A perfectly smooth species, with slender 



Climbing False djjjibjng^ reddish stem, arrowhead-shaped 

 leaves, and leafy flower-spikes, the tiny 

 flowers green-white or pink, the calyx 

 five-parted. Climbing over rocks and 

 bushes 6-12 feet high. In moist places, 

 common everywhere. A rather decorative 

 vine but often troublesome in the vege- 

 table garden. 



The familiar buckwheat in cultivation 

 escaped to waysides. From the old world; 

 with arrowhead-shaped leaves, and green- 

 ish white flowers sometimes pinkish, the 

 calyx five-divided, and with eight honey- 

 glands alternating with the stamens ; the 

 flowers fertilized mostly by honej'bees ; 



the honey of a peculiarly fragrant character but dark in 



color. Seed beechnut-shaped. Common everywhere. 



The name from, fagus, beech, and itvpoi, wheat. 



Polygonum du 

 metortim var. 

 scandens 

 Qreen=white, 

 pink 

 July- 

 September 



Buckwheat 



Fagopyrum 



escidentii.m 



Greenish 



white 



June 



September 



io8 



