WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
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[As described in the genus Persicaria (Polygonum).] The stem is 1-2 feet high, with swollen 
joints (nodes), branched, decumbent, and rooting at the base, then erect; with lance-shaped, 
entire leaves, the upper ones nearly stalkless and the lower shortly stalked ; and the stipules 
fringed with bristles (ciliate). The whole plant is acrid and green, and usually a large number of 
plants are found growing together. [ Plate 41. 
Very common. In wet places, especially by ditches and on the edges of ponds and streams ; 
distributed throughout England, the south of Scotland, and Ireland. August — September. 
Annual. 
7. Creeping- Persicaria. (Polyg-'onum minus. Huds.)— A very similar species to the 
last, but smaller in every way, the spikes erect, the flowers only half the size, the perianth without 
conspicuous glands, the nut half the size, and the leaves narrower. 
Rare. In wet, gravelly places ; in England, Scotland, and Ireland. August — October. Annual. 
8. Lax-flowered Persicaria. (Polyg-'onum mite. Schrank.)— Another species very 
similar to the last two, but with thicker, erect spikes of flowers, distinguished from the Water 
Pepper (Polygonum Hydropiper) by the absence of glands on the perianth, and from the Creeping 
Persicaria by the larger flowers and fruits which are the same size as those of the Water Pepper. 
Rare, local. In wet places by the sides of rivers ; chiefly in our south-eastern counties, not 
recorded from Scotland and Ireland. August — September. Annual. 
9. Common Persicaria. (Polyg-'onum Persicaria. Linn.) — A pretty species with 
bright rose, rarely white flowers, in compact oblong or cylindrical spikes terminating the stem and 
branches ; the stamens are usually 6 ; the styles usually 2 when the nut is flattened, or 3 when 
the nut is 3-sided. [As described in the genus Persicaria (Polygonum).] The stem is about 1-2 
feet high, red or rarely spotted, swollen at the joints (nodes), and branched ; the leaves are lance- 
shaped, shortly stalked, with minute warts, generally with a black blotch in the middle of the leaf, 
and more or less hairy ; and the stipules are strongly fringed with short, weak bristles. The whole 
plant is often tinged with red. [Plate 41. 
Very common. In cultivated ground and damp waste places ; throughout England, Scotland, and 
Ireland. July — October. Annual. 
10 . Pale-flowered Persicaria. (Polyg-'onum lapathifdlium. Linn.)— A very similar 
plant to the last, but differing in the flowers being pale, the flower-stalks (peduncles), perianth, and 
leaves being dotted with conspicuous glands, and the stipules close to the stem with little or no 
fringe. 
Very common. In cultivated ground and damp waste places ; throughout England, Scotland, and 
Ireland. July — September, Annual. 
11 . Spotted Persicaria. (Polyg-'onum maculatum. Trim, and Dyer.) — This is 
another species very similar to the Common Persicaria (Polygonum Persicaria), but differing from 
it in the perianths and flower-stalks being dotted with conspicuous glands, and differing from the 
Pale-flowered Persicaria (Polygonum lapathifolium) in the leaves being woolly and white underneath 
and the stipules loose and shortly fringed. 
Not common. In damp, gravelly places ; in England, Scotland, and Ireland. July — October. 
Annual. 
12. Amphibious Persicaria. (Polyg-'onum amphib'ium. Linn.) — Flowers -l inch 
long, rose-coloured, in handsome oblong clusters, solitary or rarely 2 together terminating the 
stem ; perianth without glands ; stamens 5 ; styles 2 ; nut flattened, roundish, and abruptly 
pointed. [As described in the genus Persicaria (Polygonum).] This plant assumes a remarkably 
different aspect according to where it grows ; when, as is usual, it is found in pools or ditches, it 
