I2 AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 
exists in two forms which he describes in separate paragraphs 
headed as follows: 
“1856. PoLyGonum foliis ovato-lanceolatis, ciliatis, spicis 
ovatis. 
a. Planta foliis aquae innatantibus. (Various references 
are here given.) 
O. Planta terrestris, caule recto, foliis manifeste hirsutis.”’ 
(References to older authors.) 
Then follow two separate paragraphs on the aquatic phase 
and then one on the description of the terrestrial phase. 
The last paragraph refers to such general characters as taste 
and pharmaceutical properties. 
In view of the classical work of Dr. E. L. Greene in distinguish- 
ing the various phases of many of our American amphibious Per- 
sicarias, and also first describing these phases in separate para- 
graphs,—a new modera taxonomic feature for plants, and the only 
logical method of treatment,—it would seem that any statement 
of facts that I have here made were but tautological repetition. 
Certain prejudices, and especially taxonomic ones, are, however, 
with difficulty removed, and it often takes more than one emphatic 
repetition to establish what is looked on as but an unfriendly 
comment on popular misbelief. Dr. Greene’s treatment of the 
Persicarias was published in limited edition, for the masters of 
botanical science rather than for its students, and the fact of the 
matter is that few have taken the trouble to have access to his work, 
and many have doubtless preferred to pass it by with a prejudiced 
attitude of mind. | 
Regarding the European specimens of amphibious Persicarias 
not at all common or numerous in our American herbaria, I have 
usually found that the terrestrial phase is oftener found. It may 
be,—and I may say it here in passing—that one of the reasons we 
on our side of the Atlantic know often less of the distinctive char- 
acters of American plants, is that we have neglected to study 
properly the plants of Europe, and our herbaria in general are 
sadly devoid of such. This fact is all the more to be lamented 
that we must know that the types of cosmopolitan plants are of 
course generally the European specimens, and so it not infrequently 
happens that new American plants are published not by our 
botanists but by old world students who, perfectly acquainted 
