718 



THE POLYGONUM FAMILY. 



5. Viviparous Polygonum. Polygonum viviparum, Linn. 



(Fig. 865.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 669.) 



Stock perennial and tuberous, with 

 simple, erect, slender stems, 4 to 6 or 

 rarely 8 inches high. Radical leaves on 

 long stalks, narrow-oblong or linear; 

 stem-leaves few, nearly sessile or clasp- 

 ing the stem. Spike solitary and ter- 

 minal, slender, 1^ to 3 inches long. 

 Flowers, when perfect, pale flesh-eo- 

 loured, and small, with 3 styles, but the 

 lower ones, and sometimes all, are con- 

 verted into little red bulbs, by which 

 the plant propagates. 



In alpine pastures, often at great ele- 

 vations, in all the great mountain-ranges 

 of Europe and Asia, descending to lower 

 levels in the north, and penetrating far 

 into the Arctic regions. Frequent in 

 the Highlands of Scotland, and occurs 

 also in northern England and North 



Fig. 865. 



Wales, and on Ben Bulben in Ireland. Fl. summer. 



6. Bistort Polygonum. Polygonum Bistorta, Linn. (Fig. 866.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 509. Bistort. Snakeweed.) 



Perennial rootstock thick, and often 

 spreading considerably. Hadical leaves 

 in broad patches, on long stalks, ovate- 

 lanceolate or cordate, often 3 to 6 inches 

 long. Stems simple and erect, 1 to 2 

 feet high, with a few nearly sessile leaves, 

 and terminating in a single, dense, ob- 

 long, or cylindrical flower-spike, 1 to 2 

 inches long. Perianth pink or rarely 

 white. Styles 3. Stamens longer than 

 the perianth. 



In moist pastures, and meadows, 

 chiefly in hilly districts, in Europe, cen- 

 tral and Russian Asia, and northern 

 America, extending into the Arctic re- 

 gions. Occurs in various parts of Bri- 

 tain, chiefly in the north of England, 

 but is often local, and in some instan- 

 ces a straggler from gardens. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 866. 



