P O L Y G O N U M viviparum.
Alpine Bijlort.
O CTANDRIA Trigynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. coloured, in 5 iegments, permanent.
Styles 2 or 3. Seed folitary, angular, fuperior, inverted
with the calyx.
Spec. Char. Stem Ample, bearingone fpike. Leaves
lanceolate, their margin revolute.
Syn. Polygonum viviparum. Linn. Sp. P I. 5 16 . Snu
F I. B r it. 428. Hudf. 169. With. 38 3 . Lightf.
206. Hull. 86.
Biftorta minor. R a il Syn. 147.
/3 B. minima alpina, foliis imis, fubrotundis et minu-
tiffime ferratig. R ail Syn. 147.
A TRULY alpine plant, communicated frefti from a moift
fpot of ground a little below the Culms near Horton in Craven,
by Mr. Bingley in July laft. It is principally found in
high paftures, or the moift fi fibres of rocks, Lightfoot fays in
dry ftony paftures, in the moft mountainous parts of this if-
land. I have gathered it near the top of Ben Lomond.
The root is tuberous and perennial. Stem about 6 inches
high, erect, Ample, leafy. Leaves narrow, on footftalks, linear-
lanceolate, veiny, fmooth (except fometimes beneath), their
margins rolled backwards; the root-leaves are often ftiorter,
broader, and finely ferrated, as in the variety |3, which has
alfo a very dwarf Item. Spike terminal, flender, obtufe.
Flowers reddifh, with the proper number of ftamina and ftyles
belonging to the genus. The germen is acutely triangular.
Seeds rarely perfected, for the lowermoft flowers efpecially have
their piftillum generally changed into a bud or bulb, which
begins to throw out leaves even before it falls to the ground,
and afterwards taking root, forms a new plant, as in many
alpine vegetables.
In fenfible qualities this fpecies altogether agrees with the
more common Biftort t. 509.
66g.