POLYGONACEAE. 



VOL. I. 



14. Rumex sanguineus L. Bloody or Red- 

 veined Dock. Bloodvvort. Fig. 1610. 



Rumex sanguineus L. Sp. PL 334. 1753. 



Perennial, glabrous, stem slender, erect, grooved, 

 simple or branched, i-3 high. Leaves oblong, 

 oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, i'-6' long, the lower 

 long-petioled, cordate at the base, acute or obtuse at 

 the apex, usually red-veined, the upper short- 

 petioled ; panicle loose ; racemes slender, spreading, 

 not leafy, interrupted ; flowers loosely whorled ; calyx 

 very small; pedicels slender, i-i-l times as long as 

 the calyx-wings, jointed at the base; wings oblong, 

 ii" long, one of them bearing a spherical-oblong 

 callosity; achene less than i" long, sharp-pointed, 

 dark red, smooth, shining, its faces convex. 



In waste places and ballast, Massachusetts to southern 

 New York, Virginia and Louisiana. Naturalized or 

 adventive from Europe. Olcott-root. May-Aug. 



15. Rumex pulcher L. Fiddle Dock. 



Fig. 1611. 



Rumex pulcher L. Sp. PI. 336. 1753- 



Perennial, dark green ; stem slender, erect or procum- 

 bent, grooved, diffusely branched, i-3 long, the 

 branches spreading. Leaves oblong, or some of the 

 lower fiddle-shaped, i'-6' long, long-petioled, obtuse 

 at the apex, cordate at the base ; upper oblong or 

 oblong-lanceolate, i'-3' long, short-petioled, usually nar- 

 rowed at both ends ; petioles more or less pubescent ; 

 panicle loose ; racemes long, divergent, sometimes re- 

 flexed, much interrupted, rather leafy ; flowers fe\v in 

 the whorls ; calyx very small, green ; pedicels equalling 

 the calyx-wings, jointed at or below the middle; wings 

 ovate or oblong-ovate, 2" long, truncate at the base, one 

 larger than the others or all three of different sizes, 

 fringed with spine-like teeth, usually two, sometimes 

 one or all three bearing tubercles ; achene i" long, 

 pointed, reddish, smooth, shining. 



In waste places, Virginia to Florida and Louisiana. Also 

 on the Pacific Coast and in ba'.last about the northern sea- 

 ports. Naturalized from Europe. June-Sept. 



16. Rumex obtusifolius L. Broad-leaved or Bitter Dock. Fig. 1612. 



Rumex obtusifolius L. Sp. PI. 335. 1753. 



Perennial, glabrous, dark green ; stem stout, 

 erect, simple or sparingly branched, grooved, 

 more or less scurfy above, 2-4 tall. Lower 

 leaves oblong-lanceolate, 6'-i4' long, long-peti- 

 oled, all cordate or rounded at the base, obtuse or 

 acute at the apex, the upper lanceolate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, 2'-6' long, short-petioled, the mar- 

 gins somewhat undulate or crisped ; panicle rather 

 open ; racemes nearly erect, continuous or inter- 

 rupted below ; flowers loosely whorled ; pedicels 

 slender, somewhat longer than the calyx-wings, 

 jointed below the middle ; wings hastate, 2"-2\" 

 long, fringed with a few spreading spiny teeth, 

 one of them bearing an oblong tubercle; achene 

 i" long, pointed, dark red, smooth, shining, its 

 angles slightly margined. 



In waste places, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick 

 to British Columbia. Oregon, Florida and Texas. 

 Also in the West Indies. Naturalized from Europe. 

 Native also of Asia. Blunt-leaved or butter-dock. 

 Celery-seed. June-Aug. 



