Polygonum romanum, Jacq.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1964, Flora Europaea - Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae, Cambridge University Press : 77

4. P.romanum Jacq. ,OZ? 5.Ror. 3:8 (1768).

Perennial with woody stock. Stems 40-100 cm, procumbent, densely leafy above, often less leafy near the base. Leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, acute, somewhat glaucous; margins plane. Ochreae hyaline, with rather faint veins, much shorter than internodes in middle of stem, but usually longer than internodes towards the base and in the inflorescence. Flowers whitish, in numerous, short, dense, leafy axillary spikes; bracts leaf-like. Nut 2-3 mm, finely striate, dull. • W. Mediterranean region. BI?Ga Hs It Sa.

P. longipes Halâcsy & Charrel , Österr. Bot. Zeitschr. 40: 164 (1890) from the Aegean region, Albania and Turkey, is like 4 but usually has shorter and less acute leaves, fewer lateral inflorescences, and a slightly glossy nut. It is not clear from the material available whether it deserves specific status.

Plants from Sicilia (? and S. Italy) which have often been referred to P. herniarioides Delile , a species of N. Africa and S.W. Asia, somewhat resemble small specimens of P. longipes but are perhaps annual; if this is so, they would be hard to distinguish from P. arenastrum . They lack the very obtuse leaves, gradually tapered from near the apex to the base, characteristic of P. herniarioides . They may perhaps, if perennial, merit specific status as P. gussonii Tod. ex Cesati , Passer. & Gibelli, Comp. FI. Ital. 262 (1869).