OCTANDRIA TRIGYNIA 251 



Obs. Collected by David Townsend, Esq. in 1829. It has not been found else- 

 where, I believe, within the County. Our plant appears to be the rar. cmersinn, 

 Mx. or terrestre, of Pers. Torr. $c. I have a specimen from my friend Dr. Freedley, 

 of Philadelphia, in which the leaves are nearly elliptic, and cordate at base, with 

 the peduncles smooth ; and which I suppose to be the var. 7iatans 9 Mx. or aquati- 

 cum, of Hooker, and others. 



10. P. ouientale, L. Stem erect, paniculately branched, hirsute; 

 leaves large, ovate, acuminate, petiolate, with hairy salverform ciliate 

 stipules ; spikes terminal, dense-flowered, nodding, on hirsute pedun- 

 cles ; flowers heptandrous ; styles 2. Beck, Bot. p. 302. 



Oriental Polygonum. 



Root annual. Stem 4 to 6 or 7 feet high, paniculately branched above, hirsute. 

 Leaves 4 to 6 inches long, and 2 to 4 inches wide, ovate and lance-ovate, often a 

 liitle cordate at base, on long hirsute petioles, which are somewhat winged by the 

 decurrence of the leaves. Stipules tubular, hairy, with the limb spreading, or rc- 

 flexed, and ciliate. Spikes numerous, 2 to 3 inches in length, oblong, nodding, on 

 hirsute peduncles. Flowers crowded, on pedicels rather longer than the pubes- 

 cent ciliate sheathing bracts. Perianth bright purple, large. Stamens T, as long as 

 the perianth. Styles 2, united at base. Seed compressed, orbicular-ovate, smooth, 

 mucronate by the base of the styles, purplish black when mature. 



Hab. Gardens, and waste places : frequent. Fr. July— Sept. Fr. Sept.— October. 



Obs. A well known ornamental species,— extensively naturalized about gardens, 

 and cultivated lots. 



Iff Flowers in paniculate Clusters, or Racemes. * Stem aculeate. 



11. P. SAGiTTATU^r, //. Stem flaccid, procumbent, 4-anglod, rctrorsr- 

 ly aculeate ; leaves sagittate, acute, on short petioles ; flowers crowded, 

 subcapitatc ; heads on smoothish peduncles. Beck, Bot. p. 302. Icon, 

 Bart. Am. 3. tab. 101. 



Sagittate Polygonum. Vulgo — Arrow-leaved Tear-thumb. 



Root annual. Stem 2 to 4 feet long, slender, branching, procumbent, or sup- 

 ported by other plants, acutely quadrangular, the angles armed with sharp re- 

 curved prickles. Leaves 1 to 3 inches long, and half an inch to an inch wide, 

 sagittate at base, retrorsely aculeate on the midrib and petiole ; petioles 1 fourth 

 to 3 fourths of an inch long. Stipules lanceolate, amplexicaul or sheathimr, 

 smooth. Floirers in pedunculate heads, or clusters. Perianth pale red, the 

 margins of the segments nearly white. Seed ovoid-triquetrous, acuminate, smooth, 

 1 purplish black when mature. 



Hab. Swampy thickets, and low wet grounds : common. Fl. August. Fr. Sept. 



12. P. atitfolium, L. Stem flaccid, procumbent, sulcate-angled, re- 

 trorsely aculeate ; leaves hastate, acuminate, on long petioles ; flowers 

 distinct, subraccmose ; racemes few-flowered, on glandular-hispid pe- 

 duncles; stamens 6; styles 2. Beck, Bot. p. 303. Icoy, Bart. Am. 

 3. tab. 100. 



Arum-leayed Polygonum. Yulgo — Halbert-leaved Tear-thumb. 



Root annual. Stem3to 6 feet long, slender, but coarser than the preceding, 

 branching, procumbent, or supported by other plants, angular-sulcate, retrorsely 

 aculeate, often purple. Leaves 2 to o inches long, and 1 to 3 inches wide, hastate- 



