WEEDS OF MONTANA. 51 



erect and with bioad oval leaves. Noted at Bozeman, Malta, the 

 Ft. Peck Reservation near Calais, Forsyth and Glendive. 



101. POLYGONUn CONVOLVULUS, L. Wild Buckwheat. 



A climbing or trailing vine with heart-shaped leaves and buck- 

 wheat-like fruit common in yards, waste places and cultivated 

 ground in th^ settled parts of the state. An annual introduced 

 from Europe and the East and now become one of our worst weeds. 



102. POLYGONUM LAPATHIFOLIUM, L. Smartweed. 



A smooth annual with swollen joints and small terminal spikes 

 of purplish or white flowers, one to three feet high. Introduced 

 about waste places, gardens and in cultivated ground; not in- 

 frequent. 



103. POLYGONUM PERSICARIA, L. Smartweed. 



A not infrequent introduction in wet places, but hardly trouble- 

 some. Like the last, but lower and with thicker and more brightly 

 colored spikes. 



104. *PORTULACA OLERACEA, L. Purselev. 



A brittle, fleshy annual with small yellow flowers, forming broad 

 mats. This eastern pest has appeared in gardens occasional!}-, in- 

 troduced with garden seed, and grows vigorously in irrigated 

 ground. Not likely to be more than locally troublesome, but should 

 be exterminated in every case lest it become established and difficult 

 to control. Noted in gardens and in waste places at Bozeman, 

 Ennis, Craig, Forsyth and Glendive. 



105. RUMEX ACET05ELLA, L. Sheep Sorrel. 



A perennial one or two feet high with small leaves, having ear- 

 like lobes on each side near the base and a strong acid taste, and 

 with slender terminal naked sprays of small green flowers or fruit. 

 Forms patches in meadows, pastures and waste land, spreading 

 by means of long underground rootstocks, and, like the Canada 

 thistle, very difficult to exterminate after it gets established. This 

 is going to be one of the worst weeds in the state, as it is well 

 adapted to our climatic conditions and has a footing in many 

 places over the state, particularly westward. It has fairly taken 



