96 MEMOIRS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE. 



[Plate 35.] 

 35. Polygonum Shastense Brewer. 



Polygonum Shastense Brewer in A. Gray, Proc. Am. Acad. 8 : 400 (1872) ; S. Watson 

 Am. Nat. T: 664, Bot. Calif. 2: 11; Greene, Fl. Francis. 133. 



Perennial by a large and thiclc root, stout, woody, glabrous throughout. Stem 

 prostrate or ascending, 1-3 dm. long, much branched from the base and throughout, 

 covered with a loose scaly bark, naked below, leafy for about 5 cm. from the ends of the 

 branches, internodes very short; leaves oblong or oblanceolate, .5-1 cm. long, .3-. 5 cm. 

 broad, obtuse or acutish, sessile, acuminate or acute at the base, more or less plicate with 

 two lateral impressions, conspicuously articulated at the junction with the ocreae; ocreae 

 funnelform, 4-7 mm. long, two-parted, sometimes contiguous and imbricated, inconspicu- 

 ous, the segments acute, very thin and silvery, the upper parts either falling away or 

 becoming lacerate ; inflorescence axillary, consisting of clusters of two or three flowers ; 

 pedicels 2-2.5 mm. long; calyx rose-colored or red, 4 mm. long, five-parted to near the 

 base, the segments obovate, obtuse, each with a dark rib ; stamens eight, included ; fila- 

 ments strongly dilated at the base ; style .4 mm. long, three-parted,- apparently formed 

 by the splitting of the apex of the achene, the divisions spreading ; achene triquetrous, 

 3.5-4 mm. long, narrowly oblong or ovoid, acuminate at both ends, chestnut-colored, 

 smooth and shining. 



Alpine parts of the Sierra Nevada in California. 



