Polygonum Pensylvanicum. var. caule maculato. 
Spotted- stalk’d Persicaria. 
PERSICARIA latifolia geniculata, caulibus maculatis. D. Ranl RaU Syn. p. i 4J . 
PERSICARIA maculofa procumbens foliis fubtus incanis. Raii Syn. p. , 4 6. eadem eft planta foio 
autem minus lasto proveniens. 
W - hic - h from „ re P catel) examinations, I have been able to difeover betwixt the Pelyrmm n 
moreVn ■ “ lts m ° ft common Rate ; in this Rate however it does not always occur, but £ fub- 
•ing, havLgTSLm^XutZtf Wlth °" an ? ddire of multiplying, hem, I make the follow- 
1 Polygonum Penfylvanicum. var. caule et Jloribus rubris. 
2 caule maculato. 
3 folks fubtus incanis. 
The firfl of thefe varieties is very often found with the true fpecies on dunghills, as alfo in corn-fields, and is like 
pllgl^P?rfariaT m% ’ theftalksand flowers bein £ red > b « ”°'f° beautifully bright as thofe of the 
The fecond variety here figured, which indeed comes near to a diffinS fpecies, grows much in the fame 
b.™ d>’l and “ft^tmeji with the Polygonum Perjkarm in the ditches about Si. Georgei-fidds, particularly in a 
la g e . dltc “ on the right-hand fide of the road between the end oiBlachnan-Street and Newington, where it is verv com- 
mon in the month of September. It not only differs from the other in having its ft a lk fpotted with red a cha- 
rafter which it keeps very conftantly, but its fpikes are much flenderer, rather more fo even than thofe of 
the Perfcana, of a red colour, but not quite fo bright as thofe of that plant: the under fide of the foot-ftalk 
of the leaves is remarkably rough ; the little glands on the foot-ftalks of the flowers, and the parts of the 
fructification are fimilar to _ thofe of the true fpecies, but the feeds are fmaller : when this variety grows in the 
rich foil abovementioned, it is full as large as the Penfylvanicum itfelf ; but when it grows in a different foil and fitua- 
tion, as on the watery parts of Blackheati and P eckham-Rye, it becomes much fmaller, generally has its leaves white 
underneath, and will certainly be taken for the Polygonum P erf c aria if not attentively examined: its fpotted ftalkand 
the roughnefs of the foot-ftalks of the leaves will however readily difeover it. 
The third variety, with leaves hoary on the under fide, is found here and there in corn-fields and other places 
where the foil is not very rich, and is obvioufly enough diftinguifhed. 
Befides thefe ftriking varieties. It is fubjeft, like all other plants, to vary in fize according to the richnefs or poverty 
of the ground on which it grows, and like the Polygonum Perfcaria , its leaves are fometimes fpotted and fometimes not. 
This deferiptive account will perhaps appear tedious and unintereffing to fome ; if however by thefe praftical ob- 
lervations, the obfeunty which has hitherto dwelt on this difficult Genus, ffiall in fome degree be removed and the 
road uf investigation made eafier to the young Botanift, I fhall think my time ufefully employed ; I would not how- 
everwdh him to take upon truft what is here advanced, but to examine each plant and its feveral parts for himfelf- 
thus he will become improved, and be able perhaps to throw a ftill greater light on the fubjed. 
The Sparrow and other fmall Birds are very fond of the feeds of this fpecies and its varieties : but the 
Farmer fhould carefully weed them from his dunghills. 
