FAM. 57. « 



racemes subtended by bracts; sepals 5; stamens 7-10, styles 3. Brunnichia 



B. cirrhosa, with alternate leaves; ocreae sometimes represented by a ring of 



short hairs. Riverbanks. Spring and summer. 



2. Climbers with flowers in racemes which end in branching tendrils; 



sepals 5. colored, the 2 interior ones narrower; stamens 8; styles 



3, ----------- Antigonon 



A. leptotus, Rosa de Montana, Mexican Vine. Leaves cordate, acuminate; 

 flowers rose-pink. Cultivated. Summer or Fall. 



3. Shrubs or trees; — leaves alternate; flowers in spike-like racemes, 



green; sepals 5, stamens 8, ovary superior, styles 3, fruit an 



achene, -------- Coccolobus, Sea-grape 



C. uvifera. Shrubs or small trees with the branches forming a head; leaves sub- 



orbicular, cordate at the base; the purple or greenish fruit forms a dense 

 raceme, resembling a bunch of grapes. Close to the coast. 



3. Herbs. 4 



4. Sepals 6; stigmas tufted, ---------5 



4. Sepals 5; stigmas not tufted, --___-__-6 



5. Wild plants; stamens 6, styles 3; — leaves alternate, ocreae thin and brittle; flowers 



green, in whorls disposed in panicles. ----- Rumex 



R. acetosella, Sheep-sorrel. Leaves hastate, flowers dioecious, three inner 



sepa'.s without wings; plants sour. Dry soil. Spring to Fall. 

 R. hastatulus, Dock. Leaves mostly hastate, flowers dicecious, inner sepals 



with wings; plants sour. Sandy soil. Spring. 

 R. verticillatus, Water-dock. Leaves not hastate; wings of sepals broadly 



deltoid, undulate or shallowly toothed. In swamps. Summer. 

 R. crispus, Yellow dock. Stout plants with fusiform, yellow roots; leaves strong- 

 crisped. Around dwellings. Summer. 



5. Cultivated plants; stamens 9 or 6; styles 3; — calyx white, sepals all similar 



flowers fasciculate in racemed panicles, - Rheum 



R. Rhaponticum, Pie-plant, Rhubarb. Leaves very large, the petioles juicy 

 and acid. Cultivated. 



6. Twining vines; — leaves alternate; ocreae oblique, naked or fringed at 



the top or the base; flowers in loose racemes; calyx green or yel- 

 lowish white, three of the sepals keeled or winged, - - Tiniaria 

 T. (Polygonum) convolvulus, Black Bindweed. Calyx green, outer sepals keeled 

 at maturity. In cultivated ground. Late Summer. 



6. Herbs not twining, --__---_--_7 

 ~ Stems conspicuously jointed and striate; — leaves alternate; ocreae 



cylindric; flowers on jointed pedicels; calyx white or pink, three 



of the sepals usually winged. Summer and Fall, - - Polygonella 

 P. polygama parviflorai Jointweed. Branched near the base; calyx white or 



pinkish; outer sepals reflexed. In sandy soil near the coast. 

 P. gracilis. Branched especially above; calyx white or pink; outer sepals not 



reflexed. Sandy soil 



7. Stems not jointed, erect, or at the base ascending or decumbent; — 



leaves alternate, lanceolate; ocreae mostly membranous, naked 

 or bristly, flowers in spike-like linear racemes; calyx white, greenish 

 or pinkish; stamens 4-8, styles 2-3. Swampy places. Summer 

 and Fall. - - - Persicaria (Polygonum), Smartweed 



P. punctata acre . Leaves acuminate, punctate; ocreae fringed; sepals punc- 

 tate; stamens 8. 



