154 MEMOIRS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OP BOTANY OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE. 



[Plate 64.] 

 65. Polygonum dumetorum Linnaeus. 



Polygonum dumetorum Linnaeus, Sp. PL Ed. 2, 522 (1762); Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 2: 

 639; Willdenow, Sp. PI. 2: 456; Persoon, Syn. 1 : 441 ; Meisner, Monog. 63 and in DC. 

 Prodr. 14 : 135; Wood, Am. Bot. and Fl. 283. 



Perennial, bright green, glabrous throughout, somewhat scurfy, extensively twining. 

 Stem weak, slender, climbing over shrubs and other supports, 6-40 dm. long, much 

 branched, channeled; leaves ovate-cordate, 2-7 cm. long, .5-4 cm. broad, acuminate, 

 petioled or nearly sessile toward the ends of the branches ; petioles 1-2 cm. long ; ocreae 

 funnelform, oblique, 3-4 mm. long, acute or obtusish, glabrous; inflorescence axillary, 

 consisting of clusters and racemes; racemes 3-8 cm. long, usually numerous, loose, in- 

 terrupted, bearing a few small leaf-like bracts; pedicels very slender, 5 mm. long, 

 deflexed, articulated near the base; calyx yellowish-green, at length 5 mm. long, five- 

 parted to near the base, the segments oblong, obtuse, the three outer ones keeled and in 

 fruit much enlarged and conspicuously winged ; wings crisped ; stamens eight, included ; 

 style .1 mm. long, three-parted, included; achene triquetrous, 2.5 mm. long, oblong, 

 inclined to be pointed at both ends, black, smooth and shining. 



Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee. Also in Europe. 



