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POLYGONUM ARIFOLIUM.
HALBERT-LEAVED TEAR-THUMB.
Octandria Trigynia, Linn. Polygonese, Juss.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calix J-pavtcd, petaloid, persistent. Seed 1, superior, 3-sided, covered by the conni-
vent calix. (The number of the styles and stamina uncertain.)
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Flowers distinct, hexandrous, with the style 2-cleft} spikes few-flowered; stem re-
trorsely aculeate j leaves hastate. Mich.
A debil e annual plant, attaining in favourable situations a height
of three or four feet, rarely five. Stem carmine-red, four-sided, beset
on the angels with rigid prickles, presenting from above downward
or backward, so as to tear the fingers when any attempt is made to
take hold of it, hence the common name. Leaves varying in size, being
from four to five inches long on the lower part, and decreasing
