^3S POLYGONACE^. [Polygonum. 



invent, with 5 reddish qompressed glands at the base suvvounding the germen. 

 Stamens 6, longer than the perianth ; anthers rose-coloured, their lobes linear, 

 united only by the insertion of the filament at a single point; pollen whitish, glo- 

 bular. Styles about as long as the perianth, united about half-way up ; stii/mas 

 capitate, rose-coloured. Germen ovate, compressed. 



2. P. lapathifolium, Ait. ? (vix L.) Pale-flowered Persicarla. 

 " Stamens 6, styles 2 distinct, spikes oblong- cylindrical dense 

 erect, peduncles and perianth glandular and scabrous, acbenes 

 compressed smooth and shining concave on both sides, leaves 

 Gvato- lanceolate shortly petiolate, lower stipules not fringed, 

 upper ones shortly fringed."— Br. Fl. p. 356. E. B. 1. 1383. P. 

 Persicaria, Wahl. Fl. Suec. i. P. pensylvanicum, Curt. Fl. Lond. 

 (excellent). 



On rich cultivated or waste ground, dung-hills, &c. ; frequent. Ft. July- 

 September. 0. 



Probably only a permanent variety of the following species, though with cha- 

 racters sufficiently definite and constant to support an opposite opinion. It may 

 be distinguished by its generally larger size and broader leaves, which are more 

 evidently stalked, the peduncles being very rough, whilst in P. Persiearia they 

 are smooth or nearly so ; but this character is subject to considerable variation. 

 More certain marks are to be found in the total want of the long hairs that fringe 

 the ochresB in P. Persicaria; in the stalks of the paler more robust spikes, which 

 are beset with pedicellate glands, making Ihem appear rough all over, and from 

 which the same part in P. Persicaria is perfectly free. In this latter the styles 

 are united for about half their length ; here they are separate to within a short 

 distance of their point of insertion. The nut in the present species differs from 

 that of P. Persicaria in its much larger size, less pointed form, and in having on 

 the two equally flattened faces a broad central depression, occupying a great part 

 of their areas, which in P. Persicaria are quite plane or rather a little convex. 

 Both species agree in the smoothness of their fruit, but that of P. lapathifolium 

 appears to be, when ripe, of a paler colour, with considerably less polish ; nor have 

 I ever observed it to take the occasional triquetrous form, as those of P. Persicaria 

 do.* The leaves are^omewhat downy beneath ; the lower ones indeed, as Curtis 

 remarks, are usually clothed with a thin cottony pubescence, and the upper 

 sprinkled with glandular dots. 



8. P. Persicaria, L. (in parte). Spotted Persicaria. " Stamens 

 6, styles 2 — 3 connected to the middle, spikes compact ovato- 

 oblong cylindrical erect, peduncles nearly smooth, perianth glan- 

 dular, achene compressed and gibbous on one side or triquetrous, 

 leaves lanceolate (often spotted), stipules lax strongly fringed." — 

 Br. Fl. p. 356. E. B. t. 756. P. biforme, Wahlenh. Fl. Suec. i. 

 p. 242. 



In low, rich, moist ground, on ditchbanks and dung-hills ; common. Fl. July 

 — September. © . 



Polygonum Bistorta, L. (Bistort or Snake-weed) has been quite established for 

 many years in the kitchen-garden atWestridge, and, though doubtless introduced 

 there, cannot now be eradicated. Albert Hambrough, Esq., sends me specimens 

 from a wet meadow near the pond at Old Park, where he found it abundantly in 

 1838. 



* This however they do occasionally in the primordial blossoms. 



