trigenous

LXXI.—Polygonaceæ.—Herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate, entire, stipules usually sheathing. Flowers small and usually bisexual. Perianth-segments 3-6, persistent. Stamens usually 5-8, opposite the perianth-segments. Ovary 1-celled, free, compressed or trigenous, ovule 1. Fruit a nut, enclosed in the perianth.

The inner surface of the seed coat is more smooth that the outer one. The wings are papery, light green and brittle when dried. The trigenous kernel is creamish coloured when young. The embryo is small and situated at one end of the cotyledons. The average weight of a single seed (ten seeds weighed separately) is 0.12g and the range of variation is 0.07 to 0.17g.