372 
lxxii. roLYGONACEiE. [Polygonum. 
greenish, tlie tips of the flowers rose coloured. Achene either tri- 
(juetrous or with a tendency to be so, as shown by the gibbous side. 
Leaves nearly sessile, usually glabrous, but there is a variety with 
hoary leaves. 
11. P. nod6sum Pers. (slender-lieaded P.) ; stamens 6, styles 
2 connected at the base, spikes usually elongate and slender 
erect, pedunples and perianths glandular and scabrous, achene 
compressed smooth and shining concave on both sides, stem 
ascending with swollen nodes, leaves lanceolate slightly waved 
tapering at both ends glandular beneath, stipules lax shortly 
fringed, floral ones with a subulate point on one side. P. laxum 
Reich.: E. B. S. t. 2822. P. incanutn Willd. 
Woodford, Essex ; Cambridge ; Chalk Farm, London ; Sussex. 
Jersey. ©. 7,8. — Reichenbach seems disposed to consider this 
a hybrid; Mertens and Koch confused it with P. Inpatlii/olium ; and 
Mr. Babington, in FI. Sam ., says “ he suspects it will be found to be 
a var. of P. Persicaria." This last is, no doubt, the most correct 
view of its affinity; Dr. Meisner, however, distinguishes it by the 
stem taller (sometimes 2 — 6 feet high), usually red, and very thick 
nodes. 
12. P. lapathfolium L. (pale-flowered P.) ; stamens 6, styles 
2 nearly distinct, spikes oblong cylindrical dense erect, pedun- 
cles and perianth glandular and scabrous, achenes compressed 
smooth and shining concave on both sides, leaves ovato-lanceo- 
late shortly petiolate, lower stipules not fringed, upper ones 
shortly fringed. E. B. t. 1382. 
Fields and dunghills, frequent. 0. 7,8. — Stem 1 — 1 ^ ft. high. 
A very variable species; but the above characters are tolerably con- 
stant. Sometimes the stem is spotted, and sometimes the leaf is hoary. 
The flowers are either pale green, almost white, or of a reddish tint. 
Spikes dense, terminal, and lateral. 
13. P. mite Schrank (lax-flowered P.) ; stamens 5, styles 2 
(rarely 3) combined to the middle, spikes erect usually filiform 
lax, peduncles smooth, perianth without glands, achene lenti- 
cular compressed gibbous on one side obscurely and irregularly 
wrinkled shining, leaves lanceolate slightly waved, stipules hairy 
strongly ciliate without glands. E. B. S. t. 2867. 
About London, Cambridge, and York. ©. 8. — Allied to P. 
minus , differing from it in the greater size, broader leaves, and larger 
flowers and fruit, and from P. Persicaria by the lax spikes and 
slightly wrinkled achenes. Flowers red. “ Stamens 6 — 8, never 5. 
Sti/les 2 — 3, nearly distinct,” Meistn This is not as we find them in 
this country, so that it is probable they vary too much to be relied on 
for characters. 
14. P. minus ITuds. (small creeping P.); stamens usually 6, 
styles 2-3 combined to above the middle, spikes slender lax erect, 
