282 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLA^-TS. 



I 2. Stem weak, not twining lut wmewluat dimhing or supported cn other 



plants by means of the prickles on the angles of the stem and petioles. 

 6. P. arifo'liTim, L. Leaves halberd-shaped, acuminate, on Ions: 

 petioles, ; clusters racemose, few-flowered : peduncles glandular-liispid"; 

 stamens 6 ; styles 2 ; fruit lenticular. 



Aeum-leated PoLTGOjfUM. Halbcrd-leared Tear-tliumb. 



Root aniraal. Stem 3-6 feet long, rather coarse, grooved-angled, braucliiiig, often pra-- 

 ple. Leaves 2-5 inches long, and 1-3 inclies wide',— the mi drib and nerves Mrsnte - pp- 

 tioles half an inch to 3 inclies long, retrorsely aculeate. SUmdes ciliate. <Mwr often of 4 

 connected sepals, purple, witli the margins pale red. 



Swampy low grounds, along rivulets, &c. : througliout the United Sates. FL Aug. 

 Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This and the following species 

 often grow in company, — clamber- 

 ing over other plants, and forming 

 entangled bunches. Both are worth- 

 less, unwelcome weeds, especially 

 among the second crop of wet mead- 

 ows. Ditching and draining are the 

 remedies for the eyil. 



7. P, sagitta'tmn, L. Leaves 

 arrow-shaped, acute, cn short pe- 

 tioles ; clusters capitate ; peduncles 

 smooth ; stamens 8 ; styles 3 ; fruit 

 sharply 3-angled. 



Sagittate PoLYG02yUM:. 

 leaved Tear-thumb. 



Arrow- 



Roat annual Sleni 2-4: feet Icnf . slender, 

 brandling, acutely quadrar r 'Jilar. Leartes 1-3 

 inclies long, and lialf an inch to an inch. wide, 

 sagittate at base, — the midrib and petiole re- 

 trorsely aculeate. Stipules 'smooth. Sepals 

 pale red, witli tlie margins nearly white. 



Swampy meadows and tliickeis : Xew 

 York to Florida. FL August. J?y, Septem- 

 ber. 



Obs. Several other species of 

 Polygonum are met with about our 

 ferms (descriptions of which may be 

 found in the Floras),- — but, as they 

 are not particularly troublesome, 

 thev are omitted here. 



Fig. 152. The Arrow-leaved Tear-thumlj (Tolygonnm sagiaatem). 



