POPULAR FLORA. 193 



Calyx of 6 (rarely 4) nearly Bimilar sepals, all more or less petal-like. 



Stamens 4 to 9; akene generally small: cotyledons narrow, {Polygonum^ Knotweed. 



Stamens 8 : styles 3 : akene triangular, shaped like a beechnut, much longer than the 

 calyx: cotyledons very broad and folded in the mealy albumen: root annual: 

 leaves nearly halberd-shaped: flowers white, corymbed, {Fagopyrum) *Buckwheat. 



Calyx of 6 sepals, and 



All alike and petal-like iwhite); stamens 9: styles 3, {Rhewm) *Ehubarb. 



Three outer ones herbaceous and spreading : three inner larger, especially after flow- 

 ering, when they close over the triangular akene: flowers dia3cious: leaves 

 sour, eared or halberd-shaped, (Eumex, ^ Acetosella) Sokeel. 



Flowers perfect or polygamous : leaves bitter : coarse herbs, {Rumex) Dock. 



Knotweed. Polygonum. 



* Flowers single or several together in the axils of the leaves, greenish or whitish: sheaths (stipules) 



cut-fringed or torn into narrow shreds. 



1. Common Knotweed, Knotgrass, or Goosegrass. Spreading on the ground, small ; leaves 



sessile, lance-shaped or oblong, pale; a variety has nearly upright stems and oblong or oval leaves. 

 The commonest weed in yards and waste places. • P. aviculare. 



2. Slender K. Upright, somewhat branched ; leaves linear, acute, sheaths fringed. Dry soil. P. tenue. 



* * Flowers in terminal heads, spikes, or racemes. 



.♦- Not twining nor climbing, and leaves not heart-shaped nor arrow-shaped: calyx petal-like and 



B-parted, except in No. 10. 



3. Oriental K. or Prince's Feather. Tall annual, 4° to 7° high; leaves ovate; spikes of rose- 



colored flowers long and nodding; stamens 7; akene flattish. Gardens. P. orienlale. 



4. Water K. Stems floating in water, or rooting in mud, or upright; leaves lance-shaped or oblong; 



spike thick and short; flowers rose-red; stamens 5; styles 2. P. amphibium. 



5. Pennsylvania K. Stem upright, 1° to 3° high; leaves lance-shaped; spike oblong, thick, erect, 



its peduncle beset with club-shaped bristles or glands; flowers rose-colored; stamens 8; akene 

 flat. Moist ground. P- Pennst/lvdnicum. 



6. Lady's-Thumb K. Stems, &c. like the last and next, but no bristles on the peduncle; leaves with 



a darker spot on the upper side ; spike short and thick, erect ; flowers greenish-purple ; stamens 

 6. Very common in waste places. P. Persicaria. 



7. Smartweed oi; Water-Pepper K. Upright, annual, 1° or 2° high, very acrid and biting to the 



taste; leaves and also the greenish sepals marked with fine transparent dots; spikes short but 

 loose, drooping; akene flattish or bluntly triangular. Moist ground, common in waste places, 

 yards, and near dwellings. P. Hydrojhper. 



i. Wild Smartweed K. Upright, 1° to 3° high from a perennial root, biting like the last, and the 

 leaves dotted; spikes very slender, erect, whitish or flesh-color; stamens 8; styles 3; akene sharply 

 triangular. Wet places. P. acre. 



i. Mild Water-Pepper K. Upright, 1° to S° high; often creeping at the base and rooting in water; 

 leaves roughish, not biting, narrowly lance-shaped; spikes slender, erect, rose-color; stamens 8; 

 style 3-cleft at the top ; akene sharply triangular. Shallow water. P.liydropiperoyes. 



io. Virginia K. Stem 2° to 4" high, angled; leaves large, ovate or lance-ovate, taper-pointed; flow- 



