ORDER CII. POLYGONACE.E. 489 



summit. Flowers usually solitary, alternate, small, on short pedicels. 

 Perianth white. Nut triangular, shining, black. — 0. July — Sept On 

 rocks. 6 — 10 inches. 



6. Flowers in axillary or terminal spikes. Stamens 5 — 8. Stigmas 

 mostly 2. 



4. P. puncta'tum, (Ell.) Stem slender, branched, sometimes decum- 

 bent at the base. Leaves with pellucid punctures, lanceolate, acute, 

 with a sheathing petiole, scabrous on the margin and midrib. Stipules 

 ciliate, pubescent. Flowers in filiform spikes. Stamens 8. Styles 3- 

 parted. Plant very acrid. — 0. Aug. — Sept. Wet ground. 1 — 2 ft. 



Water Pepper. Smart-weed, 



6. P. mi'te, (Pers.) Stein decumbent and erect, hairy at the summit, 

 branching. Leaves narrow-lanceolate, acuminate, entire, with long 

 cilise. Flowers in crowded spikes. Stamens 8. Styles 8-parted. Pe- 

 rianth purple. — ©. July — Sept. Ditches and ponds. 1 — 2 feet. 



6. P. Vikginia'num, (L.) Stem simple, hairy toward the summit. 

 Leaves broad-lanceolate, acuminate, scabrous, with fringed serratures. 

 Stipules ciliate. Spikes axillary and terminal. Stamens 5. Styles 2. 

 Perianth white. — 11 . July — Aug. Shady woods. 2 — 4 feet. 



7. P. seta'ceum, (Bald.) Stem erect, glabrous. Leaves broad-lance 

 olate, acuminate. Stipules long, fringed. Flowers in hirsute spikes, on 

 long peduncles. Stamens 8. Style 3-cleft. Perianth white. — If. June 

 —Aug. Stiff soils. 1—2 feet. 



8. P. hirsu'tum, (Walt.) Stem erect, decumbent, branching, hairy 

 Leaves oblong, often slightly cordate at the base, hairy, entire. Flowers 

 in slender spikes. Stamens 8. Style 3-cleft. Perianth white. — If- 

 May — Aug. Shallow ponds. 1 — 2 feet. 



9. P. incarna'tum, (Ell.) Stem geniculate, slightly angled, scabrous 

 toward the summit. Leaves lanceolate, serrulate, pubescent on the un- 

 per surface, large. Flowers in several simple spikes. Stamens 6. Style 

 2-cleft. Perianth white, or rose-colored. — 11. July — Oct. Ditches 

 and ponds. 2 — 3 feet. 



10. P. Pennsylva'nicum, (L.) Stem geniculate, with swollen joints, 

 glabrous, angled. Leaves lanceolate, slightly hairy, petioled. Flowers 

 in crowded oblong spikes, large. Stamens 8. Style 2-cleft. Peduncles 

 hispid. Perianth reddish. — ©. July — Sept. Margins of ponds. 2 — 

 4 feet. 



11. P. orien'tale, (L.) Stem erect. Leaves large, ovate, acuminate, 

 minutely pubescent, petioled. Stipules hairy. Flotvers in crowded 

 spikes, large. Stamens 6. Styles 2. Perianth rose-color, or white. — 

 0. July — Aug. Cultivated grounds. 4 — 5 feet. Prince's Feather. 



c. Spikes in panicles. 



12. P. polyga'mum, (Vent.) Stem erect, branching, glabrous. Leaves 

 small, sessile, with glabrous stipules. Spikes paniculate, jointed. Flow 

 ers solitary at each joint. Stamens 8. Styles 3. Perianth white. — 

 11. July— Sept. Pine-barrens. Middle Car. and Geo. 6 — 8 inches 



<21* 



