Polygonum mirajabii Chaudhri in Pak. Syst. 3: 28. 1987. syn. nov. (?)

Prostrate to ascending perennial, with stout, long, much branched ± grooved stem, glabrous or puberulous; internodes short. Leaves 10-15 x 3-5 mm , broadly elliptic, flat, entire, usually acute, sometimes obtuse, nerves ± obscure, or prominent, petiole 2-5 mm long. Ochreae not covering the internodes, hyaline, ovate - lanceolate, 5-7 mm long, acuminate or sometimes lacerate, nerves 2, stout, excurrent, running from base to the apex but not biaristate. Flowers axillary, usually 2, sometimes 3 or 4 in each axil, pedicel short, jointed just below the tip, perianth lobes 5, outer tepals keeled, styles 2, stigmas capitate. Nut trigonous, black or dark brown, shining, broadest below the middle, 1.5 - 2 mm long.

Type: Mussoree, August, Royle (LIV) (vide Stansfield 1953).

Grows between 1500-4000 m; Distribution: Pakistan, Kashmir and India (Kumaon).

Differs from P. biaristatum Aitch. & Hemsl. by its ± ascending habit, somewhat larger leaves, ochreae not biaristrate, 2 styles and smaller nuts (1.5-2 mm long). In P. biaristatum the plants are completely prostrate, leaves smaller with much smaller internodes, 3 styles and larger nuts (c. 3 mm). Duthie 11656 (BM) belongs to P. recumbens Royle ex Bab. whereas in E it belongs to P. cognatum Meisn. subsp. cognatum.

The type of Polygonum mirajabii Chaudhri is not traceable in ISL. The figure given in the original publication is quite poor. However, judging from the description and the type locality the taxon seems to be conspecific with P. recumbens in being perennial, having similar type of nuts and 2 stigmas.