248 OCTANDUIA TRIGYNIA 



3. P. tkxuf-, Mx. Stem erect, slender, branched, acutely angled ; 

 leaves lance-lincar, erect, cuspidate ; stipules tubular, lacerate at sum- 

 mit, with the segments setaceously acuminate ; flowers subsessile, 

 mostly solitary, alternate. Heck, Hot. p. 301. 

 P. linifolium. MuhL Catal. p. 40. Hart. Phil. I. p. 186. Bart. Am. 



3. /;. G9. Icon, tub. 95./. 2. 

 .Slender Polygonum. 



Uoot annual, sublitineous, fibrous. Stem 6 to 12 or 15 inches high, sometimes 

 simple, generally with upright and somewhat flexuose branches, often much 

 branched from near the base, with acute scabrous angles. Leaves an inch to an 

 inch and half long, and 1 lo 2 lines wide, abruptly acuminate, 3-nerved, finely cil- 

 iate-serrulate on the margin, sessile. Stipules tubular, mostly of a dark chesnut 

 brown, sheathing ihe stein about 1 third o\'>u\ inch below the leaves, divided at the 

 base of the leaves into several lance-linear segments With long setaceous points. 

 Fiotvers generally solitary, sometimes in pairs, on very short pedicels. Perianth- 

 segments oblong, obtuse, with green keels, and whitish margins. Stamens short; 

 filaments dilated at base. Styles 3, very short* Seed ovoid-triquetrous, nearly 

 black, angles smooth and shining, sides a little concave, roUghish-punctate under 

 a lens. 

 Ifab. Dry, sandy banks; Mica-slate hills : frequent Ft. July-Aug. FV. SeptrOct 



■j" j* Flowers in terminal or axillaru Spikes. 



4. P. vihoixianum, Jj. Stem simple, leaves oval-lanceolate and 

 lance-ovate, acuminate ; spike terminal, virgate, slender, very lony; ; 

 flowers pentandrous; perianth unequally 4-parted ; styles 2, long, per- 

 sistent. Beck , Bot. /;. 301. 



P. virginicum. Bigel. Bost. p. 156. 

 VmoixiAN Polygonum. 



Root perennial* Stem 2 to 3 or 4 feet high, simple, somewhat angular, striate - 

 ribbed, pilose above, near the joints. Leaves 3 io 6 inches long, and an inch and 

 half to 3 inches wide, the upper surface and midrib somewhat hairy, the margin 

 br\sl\y-c\\\nlc; petioles 1 third to 3 fourths of an inch long. Stipules tubular, sheath- 

 i : i _r - L jie stem near half an inch above the petioles, very hairy, truncate and ciliatc 

 at summit. Spike 12 to IS inches long, terminal, slender, leafless, mostly solitary, 

 sometimes 1 or 2 smaller ones from the axils of the upper leaves. Flowers mostly 

 solitary, remote, and a little recurved, conspicuously articulated to short pedicels, 

 which proceed from tubular truncate bristly-cilialo sheaths. Perianth greenish 

 white, often purplish, 4-parted; segments unequal. Stamens j, unequal. Styles 

 2, as long as the ovary, oblique; stigmas simple, recurved. Seed compressed, 

 ovate, lenticular, chesnut brown when mature, smooth and shining, beaked by the 

 persistent styles. 

 Hub. Rich woodlands, and borders of thickets ; frequent. Ft. July-Aug. Fr. Sept 



5. P. puxctatum, Ell. Stem branched ; leaves lanceolate, pellucid- 

 punctate ; spikes terminal and axillary, filiform, nodding ; fascicles of 

 dowers rather remote ; perianth glandular-punctate ; styles 2, or 3 ; 

 seed lenticular, or triquetrous. Beck, Bot. p. 301. 



P. Hydropipcr. Mx. Am. 1. p. 238. MuhJL Gated, p. 40. BigeL 



Bost. p. 156. Not! of/,. 



P. hydropiperoides. Pursh, Am. 1. p. 270. .Xutt. Gen. 1. p. 255. 



Not of Mx. nor? Bigel. 



Pcsctate Polygonum. Vulgu — Water-pepper. 



