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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS polygonum 



Dock leaves? B. Hydrolapathum is particularly handsome, with its erect 



branched stems 3-6 ft. high, and broad, oblong lance- shaped leaves 1-2 ft. 



long, rounded at the base, and having wingless stalks 6-10 in. long. In 



autumn the leaves assume a rich coppery red, and are very ornamental. 



ERIOGONUM. — A genus of tufted 

 perennial herbs or undershrubs or slender 

 annuals, more or less downy or woolly. 



Leaves clustered at the base of the stems, 

 nearly radical, or a few on the stems, 

 alternate, entire, with the stalks more 

 or less dilated, and stem-clasping at the 

 base, without ocreate stipules. Perianth 

 more or less deeply 6-cleft. Stamens 9 ; 

 filaments often bearded at the base. 

 Fruit a 3-angled or 3- winged nut. 



E. umbellatum. — A densely tiifted 

 species with obovate oblong or spoon- 

 shaped leaves more or less wooUy or 

 downy, especially beneath, and from the 

 centre of which spring up stems 3-12 in. 

 high bearing golden-yellow blooms in 

 umbels about 4 in. across. There is a 

 variety called Sileri, rather better than 

 the type. 



Culture and Propagation These 



plants grow in a mixture of loam and 

 peat and may be increased by seeds sown 

 in spring in cold frames, or by dividing 

 the tufts at the same period. About 100 

 species have been described, all natives 

 of North America, but the above is the 

 only species, which seems to grow at all 

 well in the British Islands. It flourishes 

 in light sandy soil in the rockery, and 

 flowers profusely in the summer months. 

 Other species sometimes seen are com- 

 positv/m, with duU white or rosy flowers ; 

 corymbosum, flowers varying from white 

 to deep rose, rarely yellow ; and stellatum, 

 yellow. If they can be obtained they 

 may be all grown in the same way as 

 E. umbellatum, but seeds or plants are 

 rarely offered. 



POLYGONUM (Knot Gkass; Knot 

 Weed). — A genus of herbs or under- 

 shrubs, sometimes low, slender, and 

 trailing, sometimes tall and erect, 

 and sometimes long climbing. Leaves 

 alternate, with ocreate stipules. Flowers 

 in clusters, racemes, panicles, or spikes, 

 usually hermaphrodite. Perianth usually 

 coloured, and composed of 5 nearly 

 equal segments, or the 3 outer ones 

 sometimes enlarging over the flat-leaved 

 or 3-angled fruit. Stamens 5-8. Ovary 

 compressed or 3-angled ; styles 2-3. 



About 150 species have been described, 

 of which the following is a fairly full hst 

 of the best kinds for garden decoration. 



Culture and Propagation. — They 

 flourish in ordinary garden soil, and look 

 very handsome when fully in leaf and 

 blossom. The perennial species are in- 

 creased by dividing the roots in autumn 

 or early spring and by layering the stems. 

 The annuals are raised from seed sown in 

 the open border about April and May, or 

 earHer in the year, about March, in gentle 

 heat, afterwards transferring the young 

 plants to the open air about the end of May 

 or early in June. 



P. affine (P. Brunonis). — An orna- 

 mental perennial 6-8 in. high, native of 

 Nepaul, containing few narrow oblong 

 lance-shaped leaves, and dense spikes of 

 rosy-red flowers during the late summer 

 and autumn. 



Culture dc. as above. Suitable for 

 the margins of lakes, ponds &e., or rnoist 

 borders. Increased by division. 



P. amplexicaule. — A Himalayan 

 perennial 2-3 ft. high, with heart-shaped 

 ovate or lanceolate long tapering pointed 

 leaves, the lower ones long-stalked, the 

 upper ones sessile, stem-clasping. Flow- 

 ers in autumn, bright rosy-red or white, 

 in soUtary or twin racemes 2-6 in. long. 



Culture etc. as above. 



P. baldschuanicum. — A pretty Bul- 

 garian climber, with ovate heart-shaped 

 taper-pointed leaves 2-4 in. long. Flowers 

 in summer, white, borne in gi-eat profusion 

 and almost entirely hiding the foliage. 



Culture dc. as above. It is an excel- 

 lent plant for traihng up posts, stakes &c., 

 pyramidal fashion, and looks remarkably 

 well on lawns or grass land away from 

 shrubs &c. The easiest way to increase 

 this species is by layering the stems in 

 late summer and autumn, as plants are 

 with difficulty obtamed from seeds, 

 division or cuttings. 



P. Bistorta (Bistort ; Snaheroot). — 

 This is a native of wet meadows and 

 pastures m Great Britain and the north 

 temperate regions of the Old World gene- 

 rally. It grows 1 -2 ft. high, with stiffish 



