420 
LXXXII. POLYGONACEiE 
Stipules glabrous or only minutely hairy on 
the nerves 
13. P. Hydropiper. 
Flowers in heads or short spikes. 
Stems terete, not prickly. 
Heads solitary or 2 together. 
Leaf-stalks ^-1 in., winged . 
Leaf-stalks less than \ in., not winged 
14. P. alatum. 
15. P. capitatum. 
16. P. chinense. 
17. P. sagittatum , 
18. P. polystachyum. 
Heads in clusters or corymbs . 
Stems square, prickly along the angles 
Flowers in large, erect panicles 
Stems twining. Nut enclosed in the 3 winged segments 
of the perianth 
19. P. pterocarpum. 
1. Polygonum filicaule. Wall. ; FI. Br. Incl. v. 25. Stems 
nearly erect, straw-like, tnfted, 4-18 in., hairy below the joints and 
on the upper parts, glabrous elsewhere. Leaves distant, shortly 
stalked, hairy, ovate or broadly lanceolate, J-l in. ; stipules 
minute, 2-parted, hairy. Flowers very small, white, shortly stalked, 
in axillary and terminal clusters. Perianth 5-parted. Stamens 3 
or 4 ; filaments very short. Styles 3, free, minute. Nut 3-angled. 
Huttoo ; August. — Temperate Himalaya, 9000-16,000 ft. 
2. Polygonum recumbens, Royle ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 25. Stems 
and branches prostrate, 1-2 ft., grooved, rough, leafy, flowering 
throughout their length or sometimes barren. Leaves shortly 
stalked, rough especially on the edges and lower surface, broadly 
ovate, J-l in., usually acute ; stipules tubular, with 2 long bristles. 
Flowers small, white or pink, in axillary clusters. Perianth 4- or 
5-parted. Stamens 4 or 5. Styles 3, free, minute. Nut 3-angled, 
smooth and shining. 
Simla, common ; July-September. — W. Himalaya, 4000-8000 ft. 
3. Polygonum aviculare, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 26, including 
P. Roylei, Bab. ; Trans. Linn. Soc. xviii. p. 115. Stems and 
branches prostrate, 1-2 ft., smooth, leafy, finely grooved, flower- 
ing throughout their length or sometimes barren. Leaves nearly 
sessile, narrowly lanceolate, J-l in., sometimes glandular-dotted ; 
stipules tubular, long, nerves several, strong, straight, the tips 
more or less projecting. Flowers small, green, tipped with white 
or red, in axillary clusters. Perianth 4- or 5-parted. Stamens 4 
or 5. Styles 3, free, minute. Nut 3 -angled, minutely wrinkled. 
Simla ; June-October. — W. Himalaya, 6000-10,000 ft. — N. Asia, Europe 
including Britain (Knot-grass). 
A very variable plant. 
* 4. Polygonum tubulosum, Boiss. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 27. Stems 
and branches prostrate, wiry, rarely more than 6 in., leafy, angled, 
not grooved, flowering throughout their length. Leaves sessile, 
linear, less than \ in., crowded; stipules conspicuous, tubular, long, 
white, transparent, nerves none or very faint. Flowers very small, 
