41 S POLA'CONACE/E 



and in rich soil often growing nearly ereet ; leaves lanceolate, with 

 chaffy sti|iules ; flowers minute, axillary, pink or greenish-white. 

 — Waste ground and j-oadsides ; abuntlant. — Fl. May — October. 

 Annual. 



4. P. Rohcrti (Ray's Knot-grass). — Intermediate between the 

 preceding and following species, resembling the former in habit, 

 the latter in fruit. It has long, stragglmg, prostrate stems; lan- 

 ceolate-elliptical, flat leaves which bend towards the stem and are 

 often glaucous ; and a large, smooth, shining nut which is longer 

 than the perianth. — Sandy sea-shores; not uncommon. — Fl. 

 August, September. Annual or perennial. 



c;. P. maritiimnu (Sea-side Knot-grass). — An allied, but more 

 shiubby species, with prostrate, often much buried, stiff, and 

 woody stem ; fleshy leaves with revolute edges, diverging from the 

 stem, netted with veins and often glauaous beneath. — Sandy sea- 

 shores in the south-west of England; very rare. — Fl. July — 

 September. Perennial. 



*** Leaves with or -without a ilaik spot in the eentre : fowers in 

 spikes : stamens 4 — 8 ; st\'les 2 — 3 ; nut compressed or ysided 



6. P. Hydropiper (Water Pepper, Piiting Persicaria). — A very 

 ai:-rid plant, creeping and rooting at the base, 1--3 feet high, 

 much branched, with lanceolate, tapering, wavy leaves, and well 

 distinguished by its slender, drooping, loose spikes of greenish 

 floivers ; stamens ri,--l )itches and places where water has stood 

 during winter ; abundant. The fresh juice, though acrid, is of a 

 not unpleasant flavdur, and is said to eyre pimples on the tongue. 

 - Id. August, September. Annual. 



7. P. niiiius (Creeping Persicaria). — ,A much smaller and more 

 slender species than the last, much branched, erect, or prostrate 

 with ascending branches ; leaves linear-lS.nceolate, flat, with fringed 

 stipules close to the stem ; very slender, erect spikes of flo'wers 

 which are only half the si.^e of those of P. Hydropiper : styles 

 2 — 3, united for at least half their length. — A\'et, gravelly 

 places ; not uncommon. — Fl. Au-ust, September. Annual. 



8. P. mite (Lax-flowered PiTsicaria). — Stem creeping and 

 rooting below, r- 3 feet high, branched, slender ; leaves lanceo- 

 late, wavy, with loose, funnel-shaped, much fringed stipules ; 

 flowers in erect, slender, interrupted spikes ; staoieus 5 — 6 ; 

 styles 2 — 3, united fir half their leirgtli ; ;;/;/ black, roughish, 

 compressed. — \\'et ])laces ; local. - Id.* June — September. An- 

 nual. 



I). P. Persiceiria (Common Persicaria). — A common weed, 

 I — 2 feet high, erect or ascending, usually swollen at the nodes. 



