POLYGONEiE. 
257 
3. Polygonum Linn. 
* Stem simple, bearing one spike. OchretB cylindrical, truncate. 
Root a rhizoma. Cotyledons accumbent. Nut triquetrous. 
Slam. 8. Styles 3. Bistorta. 
1. P. Bistorta (L.) ; spike dense, 1. ovate subcordate, radical 
1. with winged footstalks, statu, half as long again as the perianth, 
nut triquetrous its faces ovate smooth. — E. B. 509. — St. 1 — li 
foot high. Root large. Fl. flesh-coloured. — Moist meadows. 
P. VI. Snakeweed. 
2. P. viviparnm (L.) ; spike lax bulbiferous bearing fl. on its 
upper part, 1. linear-lanceolate with revolute margins, lower 1. 
elliptical with wingless footstalks, stam. twice as long as the peri- 
anth, nut triquetrous its faces ovate-lanceolate smooth and shi- 
ning. — E. B. G69. — Height 4 — 8 in. Spike slender, the ft. on the 
lower part replaced by small red bulbs. Fl. flesh-coloured, some- 
times very few in number. — Mountain pastures. P. VI. VII. 
** Ochrem cylindrical, truncate. Root fibrous. Cotyledons 
accumbent. Nut compressed or triquetrous. Stam. 4 — 8. 
Styles 2 — 3. Fl. spiked, rarely capitate. — Fl. purple or 
white. L. without or with a central dark spot. Persicaria. 
3. P. amphibium (L.) ; spike dense ovate-cylindrical, 1. stalked 
ovate oblong (floating) or oblong-lanceolate or narrow-lanceolate 
rough at the margins, ochrese membranous narrow, nut com- 
pressed smooth shining, stam. 5, root creeping. — E. B. 436. — 
St. long when floating. Spikes generally solitary and terminal. 
Fl. rose-coloured. Very variable in the form of its leaves ac- 
cording to its habitation. — Floating or growing upon mud or on 
boggy ground. P. VII. VIII. 
4. P. lapathifolium. (L.) ; spikes oblong cylindrical dense, I. 
oblong-lanceolate or ovate attenuated at both ends glandular 
beneath, ochrem narrow not fringed the upper ones shortly fringed, 
peduncles and perianths glandular-scabrous, nut compressed its 
faces roundish acuminate both hollowed smooth shining scarcely 
covered by the perianth, styles distinct at length divergent and 
reflexed, stam. 8. — E. B. 1382. — «. pallidum ; 1. all oblong-lan- 
ceolate wavy, spikes axillary or terminal solitary, bracts auricled 
glandular, joints of the st. scarcely thickened. P. lapathifolium 
R. Icon. f. 688. P. pallidum With., Fries. — [i. nodosum ; lower 
1. ovate or elliptical even, spikes usually 2 together, bracts auri- 
cled glabrous, joints of the st. tumid. P. nodosum R. Icon, 
f. 689., Fries. — The varieties appear to be quite connected by 
intermediate forms. According to Fries var. «. has the veins of 
its perianth arcuated and recurved at the end, and var. (i. has 
them branched and converging at the end, but I have not been 
able to examine this character sufficiently to give an opinion 
