POLYGONACEjE. 



721 



axillary. Perianths, and often the bracts 

 and stipules or other parts of the plant, 

 dotted with small glands, and the whole 

 plant is more or less acrid or biting to 

 the taste. 



In wet ditches, and on the edges of 

 ponds and streams, throughout Europe 

 and central and Russian Asia to the 

 Arctic regions. Abundant in England 

 and Ireland, more rare in the Scotch 

 Highlands. Fl. summer and autumn. 



Fig. 870. 



11. Slender Polygonum. Polygonum minus, Huds. 



(Fig. 871.) 



(Eng.Bot. t. 1043.) 



Yery near the Wa'erpepper P., and 

 probably a mere variety. It is usually 

 a smaller plant, with rather smaller 

 flowers, in closer, although slender 

 spikes, and has neither the glandular 

 perianths nor the biting flavour of that 

 species. 



In ditches and waste places, on road- 

 sides, etc., over the whole range of the 

 Waterjpepjper P. In Britain, not so 

 common as that species, and scarcely 

 extends into Scotland. Fl. summer and 

 autumn. The smaller, most distinct form 

 is usually found in dryer situations. 

 When growing in richer, wet situations, 

 it can only be distinguished from the 

 Waterpepper P. by the absence of the 

 glands on the perianth. This form has 

 been published as a species, under the 

 name of P. mite (Eng. Bot. Suppl. 

 t. 2867). It is not improbable that further observation may show that 

 this and the last three Polygonums are all varieties of one species. 



VOL. II. S 



Fig. 871. 



