LXXXII. POLYGONACE^E 
421 
white or pink, sessile, in axillary clusters. Perianth shortly 4- or 
5-toothed. Stamens usually 4 or 5. Styles 3, free, minute. Nut 
3 -angled, smooth, shining,, 
X.W. Himalaya, 6000-7000 ft. ; June-September. — W. Asia. 
5. Polygonum plebejum, JR,. Br. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 27. Stems 
and branches prostrate, 6-24 in., leafy, terete, finely grooved, 
smooth, flowering throughout their length. Leaves linear or 
narrowly obovate, rarely more than \ in. ; stipules tubular, short, 
transparent, nerves none or faint. Flowers minute, white or pale 
pink, in axillary clusters half concealed among the stipules. 
Perianth 4- or 5-parted. Stamens 4 or 5. Styles 3, free, minute. 
Nut 3-angled, smooth, shining. 
Valleys below Simla ; April-October. — Throughout India, ascending to 
5000 ft. — -Asia, Africa, Australia. 
A variable plant. 
6. Polygonum orientale, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 30. An erect, 
softly, hairy herb ; stems robust, 3-10 ft., grooved, branched. 
Leaves pubescent, long-stalked, ovate, 6-9 X2J-5 in., acute; 
stipules tubular, mouth truncate, dilated, margin often green 
and lobed. Flowers red or white, in dense, erect or drooping 
racemes 2-4 in. long forming terminal panicles ; bracts flat, ovate, 
densely hairy, each containing 3-6 flowers. Perianth 4- or 5- 
parted. Stamens 7 or 8. Styles 2, united for half their length. 
Nut round, flattened. 
In swamps ; April-November.— N. India, ascending to 5000 ft. — Tropical 
Asia, often cultivated. 
7. Polygonum amplexicaule, Don ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 32. A 
nearly glabrous, erect herb ; stems tufted, 2-3 ft., slender. Leaves 
few, distant, lower long-stalked, upper stem-clasping, ovate, 3-6 
in., cordate, long-pointed, minutely crenate ; stipules tubular, 1-2 
in. Flowers pink or deep red, varying to white, in. diam., 
crowded in one or two erect racemes 2-6 in. long ; bracts flat, 
scarious, glabrous, ovate, acute. Perianth 5-parted. Stamens 8. 
Styles 3, free, long. Nut 3-angled, smooth, shining. 
Simla, Mahasu, common : June-October. — Temperate Himalaya, 6000- 
10,000 ft. 
In the FI. Br. Ind. this species is divided into the type, having flowers J 
in. diam., and var. speciosum with broader leaves, shorter spikes and deep red 
flowers ^ in. diam. Both forms occur at Simla, the latter variety usually at 
higher elevations. 
8. Polygonum Emodi, JMeissn. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 33. Glabrous ; 
stems woody, prostrate, rooting at the joints ; branches 6-10 in., 
leafy, ascending. Leaves nearly sessile, stiff, linear-lanceolate, 
1J-2 in., acute ; stipules tubular, 1 in., long-pointed, more or less 
divided from the tip, nerves many. Flowers red, in erect, terminal 
racemes 1-1 1 in., solitary or two together ; bracts flat, ovate, acute, 
