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WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
I. PERSICARIA. (POLYGONUM. Linn.) — Flowers small, generally pink or white, in clusters 
in the axils of the leaves forming spikes or branched clusters (panicles). Perianth deeply 5-lobed, 
in 2 rows, the 3 outer lobes sometimes enlarged in fruit, inserted below and remaining with the 
seedcase ; stamens 5-8 ; carpels 2 or 3, with the same number of styles and stigmas ; fruit a small 
nut, compressed when there are two carpels, 3-sided (triquetrous) when there are three. Herbs, 
usually rather straggling, with stems often enlarged and bent at the joints (nodes), alternate leaves 
which are entire or toothed, and membranous stipules, often fringed at the edge, sheathing the 
stems. 
Flowers in loose clusters (racemes) ; stamens 8 ; styles 3 ; nut 3-sided ; stems twining ; leaves 
arrow-shaped ; root fibrous. 
(1) Black Bindweed. (Polyg'onum Convol'vulus.) — Perianth outer segments keeled. 
(2) Copse Buckwheat. (Polyg'onum dumetorum.) — Perianth with broad white wings. 
Flowers 1-3 together in leaf-axils ; stamens 8; styles 3; nut 3-sided; stipules silvery and torn; 
root fibrous. 
(3) Common Knot-grass. (Polyg'onum avicuMre.) — Nuts rough, about same length as 
perianth ; leaves thin. 
(4) Ray’s Knot-grass. (Polyg'onum Raii.) — Nuts shining, much longer than perianth ; 
leaves fleshy. 
(5) Seaside Knot-grass. (Polyg'onum marit'imum.) — Nuts shining, much longer than the 
perianth ; leaves fleshy, with margins turned back. 
Flowers in spikes ; stamens 4-8 ; styles 2-3 ; nut compressed or 3-sided ; root fibrous. 
(6) Biting Persicaria. (Polyg'onum Hydrop'iper.) — Flower-spikes slender, drooping ; perianth 
dotted with conspicuous glands ; acrid. 
(7) Creeping Persicaria. (Polyg'onum minus.) — Flower-spikes slender, erect ; perianth without 
glands ; flowers and fruit very small. 
(8) Lax-flowered Persicaria. (Polyg'onum mi'te.) — Flower-spikes thicker, erect ; perianth 
without glands. 
Flower-spikes erect and oblong. 
(9) Common Persicaria. (Polyg'onum Persicaria.) — Perianth without glands ; leaves with 
minute warts. 
(10) Pale-flowered Persicaria. (Polyg'onum lapathifolium.) — Flowers pale; perianth, flower- 
stalks, and leaves dotted with conspicuous glands. 
(n) Spotted Persicaria. (Polyg'onum macuMtum.) — Perianth and flower-stalks dotted with 
conspicuous glands ; leaves white and woolly underneath. 
(12) Amphibious Persicaria. (Polyg'onum amphib'ium.) — Spikes usually solitary, handsome; 
styles 2 ; stems creeping, usually floating ; leaves large oblong. 
Stamens 8 ; styles 3 ; nut 3-sided ; stem erect, unbranched, root a rhizome. 
(13) Bistort. (Polyg'onum Bistorta.) — Flower-spike solitary, dense, oblong; leaves egg- 
shaped. 
(14) Viviparous Bistort. (Polyg'onum vivip'arum.) — Flower-spike solitary, loose, slender, 
bulbiferous ; leaves lance-shaped. 
