THE PERSIC ARIA FAMILY 
[ORDER LXIV. POLYGONACE^E] 
PERIANTH 3-6-lobed, the lobes more or 
less united at the base, or united into a 
tube, or free, often in 2 rows, remaining 
and sometimes enlarging with the fruit, 
inserted below the seedcase (hypogynous). 
STAMENS usually 5-8, inserted around 
(perigynous) or below the seedcase (hypo- 
gynous). 
CARPELS usually 3, occasionally 2 or 4, 
united into a seedcase and surmounted 
with the same number of styles which are 
sometimes so short that the stigmas seem 
to be situated directly on the seedcase 
(sessile). 
FRUIT a small nut, 3- or 4-sided according 
to whether there are 3 or 4 carpels, flat 
and 2-sided when there are only 2, 
enclosed in but not adhering to the 
perianth, decaying to free the seed 
(indehiscent). 
LEAVES usually alternate, undivided 
(simple), with membranous stipules form- 
ing a sheath or ring round the stem. 
FLOWERS small, numerous, in clusters in 
the axils of the leaves forming spikes, or 
looser clusters (racemes), or branched 
clusters (panicles). 
DISTINGUISHED by the sheathing stipules 
which surround the stem even when the 
sheath is reduced to a mere rim. 
M OST members of this order are herbs with hollow stems and simple leaves, and are charac- 
terised by the sheathing stipules which surround the stems at the base of each flOwer- 
cluster and leaf. 
The order is a large one and is distributed over all parts of the world. Those in temperate 
zones are usually herbs, but in the tropics they are either woody climbers or shrubs. 
The stalks of the Rhubarb (various species of Rheum) are much used for tarts, and Sorrel 
(Rumex Acetosa) is cultivated as a vegetable in some countries. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum sagittatum) 
is grown as a food for pheasants. Though the stalks of the Rhubarb are pleasant eating, when 
cooked, the roots are very different ; those of Rheum officinale and Rheum palmatum, however, 
being valuableTn medicine. 
A tropical order near akin to the Persicaria Family is the Piperacese, of which the Black 
Pepper (Piper nigrum), a native of the East Indies, is a member. 
I. Persicaria (Polyg'onum). Perianth of 5 lobes; stamens 5-8; styles 2-3; nut triangular or 
flattened, embryo at side of seed, cotyledons flat. 
II. ^Buckwheat (Fagopyrum). Perianth of 5 lobes ; stamens 8 ; styles 3, stigma clubbed ; nut 
triangular, embryo in centre of seed, cotyledons large, leaf-like and plaited. 
III. Mountain Sorrel (Oxyr'ia). Perianth of 4 lobes, 2 inner larger ; stamens 6 ; styles 2, 
stigmas feathery ; nut flattened and winged. 
IV. Dock (Rumex). Perianth of 6 lobes, 3 inner much larger; stamens 6; styles 3, stigmas 
feathery ; nut triangular. 
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