RHEUM. 



742. R. crassinervium Fischer. — Native country not known 

 to me. 



Leaves heart-shaped, acuminate, obtuse, wavy, excessively bullate, 

 deep green, quite smooth on both sides, rather glossy on the upper 

 side, scabrous at the edge; the ribs slightly coloured red, and the 

 central ones above i an inch deep at the base ; sinus open, cuneate, 

 with the lobes of the leaf inflected. Petiole dull red, rounded, rather 

 angular, with a narrow flattened upper side, the edges of which are 

 raised, and which is narrower at the point than at the base. — This is 

 undoubtedly quite distinct from any other species, but has not yet 

 flowered ; the form of the petiole approaches that of R. Emodi, but 

 the leaf is quite different. It was sent by Dr. Fischer from the Imperial 

 Garden at St. Petersburgh with this name, and is now growing in 

 the Apothecaries' Garden at Chelsea. Mr. William Anderson, the 

 gardener there, states that the roots, when 3 years old, being ac- 

 cidentally uncovered, were found as thick as the wrist, and brittle ; 

 and when examined at Apothecaries' Hall were found to possess the 

 peculiar colour and odour of the best Turkey Rhubarb. 



R. hybridum Murray, and R. Ribes Gronov., are not medicinal species. 



RUMEX. 



Calyx of 3, obtuse, spreading, permanent external leaves, more 

 or less combined at the bottom, and of 3, ovate, larger internal 

 ones, similar in colour, though thinner in texture, and more 

 veiny ; subsequently enlarged, converging round the fruit, and 

 permanent, bearing, in some species, a dorsal grain or tubercle. 

 Filaments capillary, very short. Anthers erect, oblong, of 2 

 lobes. Ovary triangular, rather turbinate ; sometimes in a sepa- 

 rate flower. Styles capillary, spreading, protruding between the 

 petals. Stigmas large, in many fine tufted segments. Nut en- 

 closed within the interior, enlarged, closed sepals, triangular, 

 polished, with 3 sharp edges. Embryo oblong, on one side of the 

 albumen. 



743. R. crispus Linn. sp. pi. 476. Eng. Bot. t. 1998. Fl. 



Lond. t. 20. Eng. Fl. ii. 191 A common weed all over Europe. 



(Dock.) 



Root tapering, yellowish. Stem 2 or 3 feet high, angular, furrowed, 

 somewhat zigzag, smooth to the touch, panicled, leafy. Leaves lan- 

 ceolate, acute, strongly undulated and crisped at the edges, smooth, of 

 a lightish green ; the radical ones on long stalks ; the uppermost 

 narrower, and nearly sessile. Clusters of numerous, rather crowded, 

 tufts, or whorls, of drooping pale green flowers ; in the lower part leafy. 

 Inner sepals always much larger than the outer, veiny, waved, each 

 bearing a large, ovate, brown tubercle. Nut contracted at each end, 

 with 3 blunt or tumid angles. Smith. — This common weed has the 

 reputation of being, in decoction or ointment, a cure for the itch ; the 

 root which is astringent, is the part used. 



744. R. obtusifolius Linn. sp. pi. 478. Eng. Bot. t. 1999. 



359 a a 4 



