714 



THE POLYGONUM FAMILY. 



Fig. 860. 



almost leafless, terminating in a simple 

 or slightly branched raceme. Flowers 

 small, in clusters of 2 or 3, on slender 

 pedicels ; the inner segments of the pe- 

 rianth slightly enlarged, but shorter 

 than the nut. Stamens 6. Nut flat, or- 

 bicular, about 2 lines in diameter, in- 

 cluding a scarious wing, which sur- 

 rounds it, and is either entire or notched 

 at the top and at the base. 



A high alpine plant, in all the great 

 mountain-ranges of Europe and central 

 and Russian Asia, descending to a lower 

 level in the north, and extending far into 

 the Arctic regions. Frequent in the 

 mountains of Scotland, northern Eng- 

 land, North Wales, and northern Ire- 

 land. Fl. summer. 



III. POLYGONUM. POLYGONUM. 



Herbs, varying much in habit, but not so stiffly erect as the Docks, 

 and sometimes prostrate, floating, or twining; the scarious stipules 

 usually sheathing the stem and often fringed at the edge ; the leaves 

 alternate. Flowers small, pale -green or red, clustered or rarely soli- 

 tary in the axils of the upper leaves, or in terminal heads, spikes, or 

 panicles. Perianth of 5 (rarely fewer) segments, either all equal or 2 

 or 3 outer ones enlarged. Stamens 8 or sometimes fewer. Styles 3 or 

 2, sometimes united at the base, the stigmas entire. Nut triangular 

 or flattened, enclosed in or surrounded by the persistent perianth. 



A large genus, widely spread over every part of the globe. 



Stems much branched, wiry, often prostrate. Flowers 

 axillary. 

 Annual. Nuts scarcely above a line long, opaque, 



dotted, or wrinkled 1. Knotweed P. 



Perennial. Nuts about 2 lines long, very smooth and 



shining 2. Sea P. 



Stems twining. Flowers in loose racemes. 



Fruiting perianth triangular, scarcely winged ... 3. Climbing P. 

 Fruiting perianth with 3 white, scarious wings ... 4. Copse P. 

 Stems usually ascending or erect, or floating. Flowers in 

 terminal spikes. 



