POLYGONBJl. 161 



LVII. POLYGONEiB. 



Flowers apetaJons : calyx usually corolline. Stamens definite, perigynous. Ovaty reduced, 

 1-celled : ovule single, basilar, atropons; styles 2-3 (-4). A^oapenre amylaceous. — Leaves 

 entire: stipular sheaths (ochrete) above the swollen joints of the stem. 



The sap is often acid : a colonial substitute for the Sorrel is the cultivated Rumex ve- 

 sicarius, L. (Deso. PI. 7. t. 494). The American Kino is a powerful astringent, prepared 

 from Coecoloba uvifera. Several Ooccoloba species are timber trees, esteemed for the tough- 

 ness of their wood : the fruit in the same genus, called Seaside Grape, is eatable, but astringent. 



1. POLYGONUM, i. 



Calyx 5 (-3) -partite, marcescent. Stamens 8 (7-4). Styles 3-2. Achenium 3-angular 

 or biconvex. Embryo curved around one side of the albumen. — Herbs; pedicels yoJ«ife«^ ; 

 racemes spieiform in the West Indian species. 



' . 1. P. acre, Kth, Stem glabrous; leaves lanceolate, acuminate, ciliolate, pellucid- 

 dotted: ochrese tubular, cUiate ; racemes erect, slender, interrupted below; calyx dotted 

 with glands ; stamens 8 ; styles 3 ; achenium 3-angular, shining. — Mart. M. Bras. 14. t. 

 5. — Flowers pale: pedicels at length exserted.— Hab. Jamaica !, Ite'rf., March, Wullschl., 

 in wet places ; Dominica !, Trinidad !, O. ,- [Pennsylvania! to Buenos Ayres !]. 



2. P. acuminatum, Kth. Stem pubescent, glabrate; leaves lanceolate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, tapering at the base, inserted above the base of the tubular, strigillose 

 o'chrea, which is long-ciliate ; racemes erect, slender; calyx eglandular; stamens 6 (8-5) ; 

 styles 2, cohering below j achenium biconvex, shining. — Mart. I. u. t. 4. — P. barbatum, 

 Mey.! Essen, {nan L.). — Leaves elongated; bristles of the ochrese appressed: its fringes 

 stout, 6"'-8"'long. — Hab. Jamaica !, Pd., March, in lagoons ; Trinidad !, Pd., Or. ; [Mexico 1 

 to Buenos Ayres ! ; Galapagos I]. 



0" 3. P. glabrum, W. Terlectly glabrous ; leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acu- 

 minate, petioled : the petiole inserted above the base of the tubular ochrea, which is devoid 

 of fringes ; racemes erect, slender ; calyx eglandular ; stamens 6-8 ; styles 2-3 ; achenium 

 biconvex or 3-angular, shining. — Wight, Ic. 5. t. 1799. — Flowers rose-coloured.— Hab. 

 Bahamas !, Swains. ; Jamaica !, Macf., Dist. ; [Louisiana 1 to Brazil ! and Uruguay ; Pacific 

 Islands I, East Indies!, China !]. 



2. COCCOLOBA. Jacq. 



Calyx 5-fid or 5-partite, at length fleshy and accrescent to the achenium. Stamens 8 (-12). 

 Styles 3. Embryo axile, straight, enclosed within the ruminate endosperm : cotyledons fo- 

 liaceous. — Woody plants ; flowers racemose or spicate : pedicels jointed. 



Sect. 1. EucoccoLOBA. — Achenium wholly enclosed within the calyx. — Leaves leathery, 

 inserted into the back of the ochrea. 



§ 1. Flowers pedicellate : pedicels exceeding the bracts, jointed below the top. 



* Calyx h-partite ; ochrece spreading. 



r 4. C. uvifera, Jacq. Leaves cordate-orbicular, often broader than long, glabrous, po- 

 lished, with the primary veins prominnlous on both sides : ochrea glabrate ; racemes simple, 

 filiform, nodding : pedicels fasciculate, jointed about the middle, longer than the flower ; 

 berry obovoid.— S^. t. 220. /. 3-5 ; Jacq. Amer. Pict. t. 110 ; Desc. PI. 2. t. 77.— A 

 branded, middle-sized or large tree ; leaves 6"-3" long, 7"-3" broad, sbortly. petioled : ter- 

 tiary veins not prominnlous ; racemes 6"— 18" long ; calyx IJ'" diam., whitish ; berry dark- 

 blue, 8" -6'" long. — Hab. Bahamas !, Swains, ; Jamaica I, Jl., common on sandy shores ; 

 Antigua I, Wullschl. ; S. Vincent I, Guild. ; Trinidad !, Sieb. ; [Florida to Guiana I]. 



5. C. pubescens, L. Leaves cordate-orbicular, subsessUe, glabrescent and rugose 

 above from the immersed veins, rusty-pubescent beneath, chiefly on the reticulated, prominu- 



M 



