By Thomas Bruges Flower, Fsq. 



339 



2. P. amphibium, (Linn.) amphibious Persicaria. Engl. Bot. 

 t 436. 



Locality. In the Avon, canal, margins of ponds, ditches, 

 and damp ground, frequent. P. Fl. July, September. Area, 

 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Recorded in all the Districts. Stems various in length, more or 

 less branched. Leaves alternate, bright green. Spikes solitary, 

 raised above the water on peduncles, proceeding from the 

 extremities of the stem and branches. Flowers crimson, 

 very elegant. Variable in the form of its leaves according to its 

 habitation. 



3. P. lapathifolium, (Linn.) dock-leaved Persicaria. Lapathus 

 is a dock. Engl. Bot. t. 1382. 



Locality. On rubbish, and in damp cultivated ground. A. Fl. 

 July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Distributed throughout all the Districts. A very variable species. 

 Stem 1 to 2 feet high, sometimes spotted, glandular, or glabrous. 

 Leaves lanceolate or ovate- lanceolate, shortly stalked. The flowers 

 are either pale green, almost white, or of a reddish tint. Spikes 

 dense, terminal, and lateral. 



4. P. Persicaria, (Linn.) Persicaria, or spotted Polygonum ; so 

 named from Persica, (Lat.) a peach tree, in allusion to the resem- 

 blance which the leaves of this species bear to those of a peach, 

 tree. Engl. Bot. t. 756. 



Locality. Moist ground and waste places. A. Fl. June, Sep- 

 ' tember. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Recorded in all the Districts. Stems erect, branched, 1 to 2 feet 

 high. Spikes terminal and lateral, dense, greenish, the tips of the 

 i flowers rose-coloured. Leaves nearly sessile, usually glabrous, 

 sometimes woolly beneath, when it is P. incanum of authors. It 

 varies much in stature and in colour, in the number and density 

 of the spikes, and in the achenes more or less concave or convex 

 on one or both sides. 



5. P. Hydropiper, (Linn.) biting Persicaria. Water Pepper, 

 from hudor water, and peperi, pepper; in reference to its acrid, 

 pungent flavour, which is due to an essential oil contained in 



VOL. XII. — NO. XXXVI. ^ B 



