58 CXIX. POLYGONACEX,. (J. D. Hooker.) [ Rheum. 
a plant inhabiting the lofty regions of East China bordering Tibet, which is probably 
this or an allied species. 
6. OX YRIA, Hill 
An erect herb, with stout rootstock. Leaves chiefly radical, orbicular- 
cordate or reniform; stipules broad, lax. Flowers in [panicled racemes, 
9.sexual. Sepals 4, 2 outer reflexed ; 2 inner larger, erect, appressed. 
Stamens 6. Ovary compressed; styles 2, short, stigmas fimbriate. Nut 
biconvex, 2-winged. Embryo lateral, nearly straight, cotyledons linear- 
oblong. 
O. digyna, Hill; Boiss. Fl. Orient. iv. 1004; leaves cordate or reni- 
form. O. reniformis, Hook. Fl. Scot. 111; Meissn. in DC. Prodr. xiv. 1. 
37; Engl. Bot.t.910. O.elatior, Br. in Wall. Cat. 1726 ; Meissn. in Wall. 
Pl. As. Rar. iii. 64, and in DC. l. c; Royle Ill. Pl. Him. 314; Hook. Ic. 
PI. t. 483. 
ALPINE HIMALAYA; from Sikkim to Kashmir, alt. 10—14,000 ft. WESTERN 
TIBET, alt. 12-17-500 ft.—DisTRIB. Mts. of Europe, N. Asia and America, Arctic 
egions. 
Glabrous, fleshy. Rootstock tufted, with many erect succulent stems 4-18 in. 
high. Leaves radical, many, long-petioled, 1—4 in. diam., rarely 3-lobed or sub- 
hastate, cauline 1-2; petiole sometimes 8 in. Racemes slender, lax.fld.; pedicels 
jointed in (the middle, tip thickened. Outer sepals spreading or reflexed; inner 
spathulate, 3-5-nerved. Fruit 4-4 in. diam., orbicular-cordate, wing membranous 
veined top notched.—A most agreeable salad, raw and cooked. Except in often 
attaining a very large size (18 in. high), the Himalayan plant does not differ from 
the European. 
7. RUMEX, Linn. 
Perennial herbs, or annvals, rarely shrubby. Leaves various; stipules 
often disappearing with age. Flowers in axillary clusters or in whorls 
arranged in simple or panicled racemes. Sepals 6 (rarely 4); outer un- 
_changed, inner enlarging entire or toothed, midrib or disk often enlarged or 
tubercled. Stamens 6. Ovary 3-gonous; styles 3, stigmas fimbriate. Nut 
included in the usually enlarged inner sepals (valves) angles acute. Embryo 
lateral, nearly straight; cotyledons linear or oblong.—Species described 
about 100 (probably greatly exaggerated), in all temperate and some tropical 
countries. 
I think that this genus wants revision and a very great reduction of species, when 
most of the Indian ones will be referred to European, in the directions I have indicated 
under each. 
Sect. I. Lapathum, Meissn. Flowers 2-sexual. Styles terminal. 
Inner scpals (valves) coriaceous much enlarged in fruit. Leaves not 
hastate. 
* Inner fruiting-sepals quite entire, disk tumid or not. 
l. R. orientalis, Bernh.; Boiss. Fl. Orient. iv. 1009; tall, stout, 
leaves elongate-oblong obtuse base cordate, racemes in an open lax or 
thyrsoid dense panicle, whorls crowded, pedicels about equalling the fruiting 
perianth, valves broadly orbicular-cordate obtuse reticulate quite entire with 
or without a small tubercle. Meissn.in DC. Prodr. xiv, 1.51. R. Dios- 
coridis, Hayne Arnzeik. xiii. 5, t. 5. 
WESTERN HIMALAYA; Kumaon to Kashmir, alt. 6-9000 ft., Falconer, &c. 
