Polygonum L.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Herbs or dwarf shrubs, glabrous or hairy

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Ochreae with or without bristles at the margin

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers bisexual, in spikes (in Somalia), solitary or variously clustered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal

Tepals 4–5, free or united at the base, petaloid, not enlarging in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens (5–)8

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles 2 or 3; stigmas capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nuts trigonous or lens-shaped, enclosed in the persistent perianth or partly exserted.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan genus of some 115 species.

Note

The Somali species belong to sect. Persicaria (Mill.) DC., a group which is often given generic rank (see, e.g., Wilson in Kew Bull. 45: 621–636 (1990).

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary included in the perianth; styles (2)3, free; stigmas capitate

Distribution

A cosmopolitan genus of c. 20 species, most occurring in north temperate regions (knotweeds).

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial prostrate or semi-erect herbs (rarely shrubs), glabrous or hairy. Annual or perennial prostrate or semi-erect herbs (rarely shrubs), glabrous or hairy

Morphology Stem

Stems much branched. Stems much branched

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, small, usually less than 2 cm long and articulated at the base, lanceolate-elliptic to oblong. Leaves alternate, small, usually less than 2 cm long and articulated at the base, lanceolate-elliptic to oblong

Morphology Leaves Ocrea

Ocrea membranaceous, silvery or white, often deeply lacerate, glabrous. Ocrea membranaceous, silvery or white, often deeply lacerate, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual, solitary or in sessile fascicles springing from the axils of bracts; bracteoles 2, fused, thinly membranous and contained within the bracts. Flowers hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual, solitary or in sessile fascicles springing from the axils of bracts; bracteoles 2, fused, thinly membranous and contained within the bracts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth segments (4)5, equal or somewhat unequal in length, spirally arranged, often imbricate, free or united in the lower part, petaloid at least in part, with only one main vein (the vein sometimes branched); outer segments keeled or slightly angular, different from the inner. Perianth segments (4)5, equal or somewhat unequal in length, spirally arranged, often imbricate, free or united in the lower part, petaloid at least in part, with only one main vein (the vein sometimes branched); outer segments keeled or slightly angular, different from the inner

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4–6, rarely fewer, included or not; filaments broadly dilated in the lower half, free or sometimes united at the base into a ring; anthers globose or ellipsoid, dorsifixed; interstaminal nectaries lacking. Stamens 4–6, rarely fewer, included or not; filaments broadly dilated in the lower half, free or sometimes united at the base into a ring; anthers globose or ellipsoid, dorsifixed; interstaminal nectaries lacking

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary included in the perianth; styles (2)3, free; stigmas capitate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nut trigonous, enclosed in the persistent perianth or protruding from it for less than half its length. Nut trigonous, enclosed in the persistent perianth or protruding from it for less than half its length.

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial herbs, glabrous or pubescent, often glandular, the stems usually enlarged at the nodes

Morphology Leaves

Leaves entire and rather thin, often glandular-punctate; petioles enlarged and sheathing at base; ocreae cylindrical or funnel-shaped, usually membranous or hyaline, often ciliate or fringed with bristles

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers perfect, in spikes, racemes or narrow panicles, rarely capitate in corymbs; perianth of 4–6 lobes, these subequal or the outer ones larger, in fruit closely adhering to the achene

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3–9, inserted on the perianth

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary with 2 or 3 styles united below, with capitate stigmas; ovule usually stalked

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achene flattened or 3-angled; seed with embryo excentric.

Distribution

A cosmopolitan, chiefly temperate genus of about 150 species.

Ecology

Commonly occurring in marshy or wet places.

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2016) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 1: Elatinaceae to Sphenocleaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Annual, biennial or perennial herbs

Morphology Stem

Stems branched, mostly more or less prostrate or only weakly erect

Morphology Leaves

Leaves small, narrowed at the base, much longer than wide, pinnately veined

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Ochreae bipartite or lacerate, more or less silvery or hyaline

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, solitary or few, subsessile or on short pedicels, in axils of leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth segments 5, equal, often greenish but ± petaloid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 5–8

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles (2–)3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nut trigonous or lenticular, enclosed in the persistent perianth or protruding from it for less than half its length.

Distribution

About 65 species, distributed in the N Temperate regions; eight species in Iraq.

Etymology

Polygonum (from Gr. ολοί, poloi, many and γονυ, gonu, knee).