Polygonum.] polygonace.e. 431 



ceitain of the correctness of his own statement respecting them. I notice it how- 

 ever to direct the attention of botanists to their discovery. 



** Plants acid ; fioiven dicecious. Acetosella, Sorrel. 



8. R. Acetosa, L. Common Sorrel. " Outer sepals reflexed, 

 enlarged ones orbicular-cordate entire membranous reticulated 

 with a minute spherical tubercle at the base, leaves oblong-sagit- 

 tate."— Br. Fl. p. 360. E. B. t. 127 ? 



In moist meadows and pastures, especially in poor sour land. Fl. May — July. 



n- 



9. B.. Acetosella, h. Sheep's Sorrel. " Sepals ascending, inner 

 ones scarcely enlarged ovate not tuberculated, lower leaves lan- 

 ceolato -hastate, lobes entire."— Sr. Fl. p. 360. E. B. t. 1674. 



In fields, meadows and pastures, waste places and on hedgebanks, in poor dry 

 soils ; abundant, i^/. May — July. 2(. 



II. Polygonum, Linn. Persicaria. 



" Perianth single, in 5 deep, coloured, pei'sistent segments. 

 Stamens 5 — 8. Styles 2 — 3. Achene compressed or trigonous." 

 ~Br. Fl. 



* Styles mostly 2. Stamens 6 or 6. Fruit compressed or 2-edged.* Persicaria. 



1. P. amphibium, L. Amphibious Persicaria. Tlowers pentan- 

 drous, styles forked united half-way up, spikes ovato-cylindrical, 

 leaves petiolate cordato-lanceolate rough at the margins. E. B. 

 t. 436. Br. Fl. p. 355. 



a. natans. Floating; leaves broadly oblongo-lanceolate, smooth and shining. 



(3. terrestre. Erect ; leaves lanceolate, and as well as the stipules hairy on both 

 sides. 



a. In ponds and clear shallow ditches ; rare. /3. In lovf wet places which are 

 occasionally overflowed ; not uncommon, but seldom flowering. Fl. July, Au- 

 gust. 1^. 



a. In a small pond near the roadside just out of Kingston on the way to Shor- 

 well, in plenty. 



;S. Abundant in a hollow by the roadside on the left-hand a few hundred yards 

 beyond the turnpike going from Yarmouth to Shalfleet. ~ Sandown marshes, and 

 at Freshwater Gate. Area of Quarr abbey, 1842. 



In variety a. (the typical form) the creeping perennial root emits a. stem of seve- 

 ral feet in length, branched, floating, iistular, rooting at the joints, often reddish. 

 Leaves floating, on long petioles, rather leathery, broadly lanceolate and more or 

 less cordate at the base, many-ribbed, bright shining green above, paler beneath 

 quite glabrous excepting along their edges, which are rough with minute, inter- 

 rupted, spinous points, often scarcely visible under a lens, or wholly wanting 

 except towards the two ends of the leaf. Ochrete close, with pale ribs, often torn 

 but not fringed. Spi/ces solitary or geminate, the secondary on a lateral much 

 shorter peduncle than the primary one, erect, oblong, of many crowded bright 

 rose-red flowers, rising several inches above the water on long, triangular, coloured 

 stalks. Perianth seated amidst sheathing membranous bracts, its segments con- 



* Except in that of the primordial or uppermost flowers of the spike, which 

 open first, and bear usually 3-cornered fruit, as do art the blossoms in the next 

 tribe. 



