162 THE TASMANIAN FLOKA. 



R. DUMOSgs, Cunn. Similar to R. puhher, but mncli more branched and 

 spreading. Flowers I or 2 together, dispersed along the branches. 

 M. fleamo^us, Sol. A native of South Australia, New South Wales, and 

 New Zealand. 



4. R. SANGUINEUS, Linn. Habit as in preceding species. Stem 1-2 feet 

 high. Leaves narrow-oblong, somewhat wavy on the margin, and rounded 

 at the base. Inflorescence elongated, the whorls often distant from one 

 another. Flower-stalks rather long. Inner segments of the fruiting- 

 perianth about 1| line long, one segment usually larger than the others, and 

 then the only one to bear a fleshy tubercle, margin of lobes without teeth 

 except occasionally in a few isolated flowers. 



Introduced, and becoming widely dispersed. Common in Europe. A 

 similar form, but of rather larger growth {R. cnnf/lomeratus, Murr.), has 

 also been introduced, but is seldom met with. Fi. spring. 



5. R. BiDENS, R. Br. A creeping, ascending perennial. Stems thick, prostrate^ 

 and rooting, the flowering-branches 1-2 feet high. Lower leaves broadly lanceo- 

 late, 6-9 inches long, upper ones narrower. Flowers in dense terminal panicles. 

 Stamens and pistil on diiferent flowers, but intermixed. Inner segments of the 

 fruiting-perianth unequal, broad, about 2 or 3 lines long, and with 1 or 2 rigid 

 teeth on each side near the base. 



Common on banks of streams and muddy places ; also in Victoria, South 

 Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. Fl. Nov.-Dec. 



6. R. ACETOSELLA, Linn A small, erect, succulent herb, often becoming 

 red, about 6 inches high. Leaves narrow-hastate, the basal lobes often 

 very small, stalked, about 1-1| inch long. Flowers small, numerous, in an 

 elongated compound raceme or panicle, the stamens and pistils on different 

 plants. Perianth-segments nearly equal, outer ones narrower, all thin and 

 closing over the fruit. 



Introduced, and very common in pastures and waste places. Common in 

 Europe. Fl. spring and summer. 



2. POLYGONUM. 



Perianth of usually 5 segments, all equal or nearly so. Stamens 5-8. Style- 

 branches 2 or 3. Stigmas usually capitate, minute. 

 A large and widely-spread genus. 



Flowers in close axillary clusters ... ... ... 1. P. aiiiculare. 



Inflorescence few-flowered, loose, branched 2 P. strigosum. 



Flowers in short, dense, tolerably broad, axillary 



spikes S. P. proxtratum. 



Flowers numerous, in more or less slender, pedunculate, 

 axillary, or terminal spikes. 



Stipules bordered with long cilia. 



Glabrous, or with few hairs on stem and midrib 4. P minus. 

 Somewhat hirsute on most parts 5. P. subsessik. 



Stipules without long cilia 6. P . lapathifolium. 



1. P. AVICDLARE, Linn. A prostrate spreading herb, the branches often, 

 6 inches to 1 foot long. Leaves narrow-oblong, mostly about 1 inch long. 

 Flowers pink or white, few together in the leaf-axils. Fruiting-perianth 

 about I^ line long. Nuts triangular. 



Introduced, and widely dispersed. Common in Europe. Fl. spring 

 and summer. 



2. P. STEIGOSUM, R. Br. A wiry, spreading, ascending, sparely-branched 

 herb, 2 or 3 feet long. Stems and midribs bearing few short reflexed hairs. Leaf- 



