Buckwheat ifamili^. 



Knotweed. Polygonum Pennsylvaniotmi. 



Found in bai-rens and waste places in August and September. 



Branching much and sprawling in manner, this plant grows from 

 1 to 3 feet in height ; it is jointed, noticeably shining, and smooth except 

 for the new growths and flower-stems which are rough with hairs. Its 

 color is green, somewhat red at the joints, which are covered loosely by 

 sheaths of a coarse weak fabric. 



The leaf is long-pointed at each end, and roughened by hairs on 

 the ribs, edges, and upper surface ; the texture is flimsy, and the color a 

 crude green. The arrangement is alternate. 



The small and inconspicuous flowers are 5-parted, and vary from 

 pink to green- white in color ; they are tightly and irregularly bunched 

 in a terminal club-shaped spike, with a little leaf at its base, — frequently 

 a second bunch of flowers occurs a little lower down the stem. 



Found commonly in great masses the plant serves to hide the ugly 

 remnants man casts into the fields it chooses for its habitation. 



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