p. CUSPIDATUM (pointed), stems slender, 6 or 8 feet high Leaves 

 large, oval-oblong, pointed and stalked. Flowers creamy white in 

 droopmg feathery panicles; June to August. Hardy perennial. Also 

 Known as P. Sieboldit. 



P. ORiENTALE (Eastern). Stem branched, stout, 4 to 10 feet hidi 

 Leaves large, oval. Flowers rosy purple or white, in long drooping 

 racemes ; August. Hardy annual. Plate 226. * 



P. SACHALINENSE (Sachalin). Stems erect, strong, angular, grooved 

 10 to 12 feet. Leaves oval-oblong or lance-shaped. Flowers' greenish' 

 yellow, m racemes from the axils ; July and August. Hardy perennial 



P. VAccmiFOLiUM (Bilberry-leaved). Stems creeping, much branched, 

 sub-shrubby. Leaves small, elliptic, margins slightly rolled back 

 b lowers bright rose, in nearly round spikes ; August to October. Hardv 

 perennial. *^ 



Cultivation. Polygonums will grow readily in any cultivated ground, 



but they have a fondness for the richer, moister places 

 Some of the larger kinds, such as P. cuspidatum, P. (yrientale, and P 

 sachahnense, form fine clumps, but their growth should not be attempted 

 where space is restricted. They are more suited for the wild-garden or 

 by the side of streams or ponds. P ajine is, from its dwarf habit and 

 profusion of rosy spikes, better for the border; and P vaccinifolium 

 should be planted on the rockery. H there is a specially wet place in 

 the garden P. sachahnense should have it. P. orientate should be placed 

 where it will get plenty of sunshine. The perennials are propagated by 

 divisions of the roots. P. orientale is raised from seed sown in gentle heat 

 m spring, and the seedlings planted out early in summer. 



rientale, the Eastern Knotweed. Fig. 1 

 I separated flower with its coloured bract; 2, a section 



ugh the same; 3, a seed; 



', soon after germination. 



Natural Order Polygone^. Genus Rheum 



Rheum (Greek, rheon, an adjectival form of rha, the old Greek name for 

 Rhubarb). A genus of about fifteen species of hardy perennia herbs 

 with thick, hard rootstocks, very large radical leaves on long juicy stalks 

 wavy-toothed or palmately lobed. The flowers are small, white, yellowish' 

 or pink, combined in bundles which are in turn united in narrow racemes 

 The perianth consists of six spreading sub-equal segments. Stamens 



