Polygonum Pensylvanicum. var. caule maculato. 

 Spotted-stalk'd Persicaria. 



s 

 PERSICARIA latifolia gemculata, caullbus maculatis. D. Rand, Rail Syt& p> 145. 

 PERSICARIA maculofa procumbens foliis fubtus incanis. Rail Syn, p. 146. eadem eft planta folo 

 autem minus lseto proveniens. 



Such then is the difference, which from repeated examinations, I have been able to difcover betwixt the Polygonum 

 Perjicaria and the Penjylvanicum in its moil common ftate ; in this ftate however it does not always occur, but is fub- 

 je& to more Varieties than any of our other Perfcaria s : without any defire of multiplying them, I make the follow- 

 ing, having found them all about London: 



1 Polygonum Penjylvanicum, var. caule et jloribus rubris, 



2 . caule maculato. 



3 , foliis fubtus incanis* 



The nrft of thefe varieties is very often found with the true fpecies on dunghills, as alfo in corn-fields, and is like 

 it in every refpecl: excepting its colour, the ftalks and flowers being' red, but not fo beautifully bright as thofe of the 



Polygonum Perfcaria, 



The fecond variety here figured, which indeed comes near to a diftincl: fpecies, grows much in the fame 

 fituations, and oftentimes with the Polygonum Perjicaria in the ditches about St* Georges-fields, particularly in a 

 large ditch on the right-hand fide of the road between the end of Blachnan-Street and Newington, where it is very com- 

 mon in the month of September, It not only differs from the other in having its ftalk fpotted with red, a cha- 

 racter which it keeps very conftantly, but its fpikes are much flenderer, rather more fo even than thofe of 

 the Perfcaria, of a red colour, but not quite fo bright as thofe of that plant : the under fide of the foot-ftalk 

 of the leaves is remarkably rough ; the little glands on the foot-ftalks of the flowers, and the parts ojf the 

 fructification are fimilar to thofe of the true fpecies, but the feeds are fmaller : when this variety grows in the 

 rich foil abovementioned, it is full as large as the Penjyhankum itfelf ; but when it grows in a different foil and fitua- 

 tion, as on the watery parts of Blackheath and Peckham-Rye, it becomes much fmaller, generally has its leaves white 

 underneath, and wilf certainly be taken for the Polygonum Perfcaria if not attentively examined : its fpotted ftalkand 

 the roughnefs of the foot-ftalks of the leaves will however readily difcover it. 



The third variety, with leaves hoary on the under fide, is found here and there in corn-fields and other places, 

 where the foil is not very rich, and is obvioufly enough diftinguifhed. 



Befides thefe ftriking varieties, it is fubjecT:, like all other plants, to vary infize according to the richnefs or poverty 

 of the ground on which it grows, and like the Polygonum Perfcaria, its leaves are fometimes fpotted and fometimes not. 



This defcriptive account will perhaps appear tedious and uninterefting to fome ; if however by thefe practical ob- 

 fervations, the obfcurity which has hitherto dwelt on this difficult Genus, lhall in fome degree be removed, and the 

 road of inveftigation made eafier to the young Botanift, I lhall think my time ufefully employed ; I would not how- 

 ever wifh him to take upon truft what is here advanced, but to examine each plant and its feveral parts for himfelf; 

 thus he will become improved, and be able perhaps to throw a ftill greater light on the fubjecl. 



The Sparrow and other fmall Birds are very fond of the feeds of this fpecies and its varieties : but the 

 Farmer ihould carefully weed them from his dunghills. 



