48 MEMOIES FROM THE DEPAETMENT OF BOTAlSfY OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE. 



[Plate 11. J 

 II. Polygonum ferrugineum Weddell. 

 Polygonum ferrugineuni Weddell, Ann. Sci. Nat. (III.) 13: 252 (1849). 



Polygonum spedabile Martins; Meisner in Mart. Fl. Bras. 5: 13. t. 3 (1855) and in 

 DC. Prodr. 14: 119. 



Polygonum gummiferum Weddell, Ann. Sci. 'Nat. (III.) ] 3 : 252 (1849)? 



Perennial, nearly glabrous but more or less scurfy. Stem erect, 6-9 dm. long, 

 glabrous, somewhat fleshy below, simple or sparingly branched above, internodes short ; 

 leaves lanceolate, 5-17 cm. long, 1-3.3 cm. broad, acuminate at both ends, bearing a few 

 short hairs on the petiole and midrib; petiole 1-2 cm. long; ocreae cylindric, 2-4 cm. 

 long, sparingly fringed when young, at length eciliate, the older ones more or less in- 

 flated, imbricated on the stem; inflorescence paniculate, nearly simple, the ultimate 

 di^'isions ending in spicate racemes; racemes linear, 2-4 cm. long, erect, densely-flow- 

 ered; ocreolae funnelform, 3 mm. long, acutish and serrate at the summit; pedicels at 

 length 2-3 mm. long ; calyx pink, 3-4 mm. long, rather strongly nerved ; stamens six 

 or seven, included; style 1-1.5 mm. long, two-parted to near the base, somewhat 

 exserted; achene lenticular, 3-3.5 mm. long, orbicular, strongly biconvex, its faces often 

 slightly biconcave near the apex, nearly black, smooth and shining. 



The West Indies and eastern Brazil. 



