196 HEXANDRIA— TRIGYNIA. Rumex. 



The true R. aquaticus of Linnaeus, a Swedish plant, which is R. 

 acutus of Ehrh. PL Off. 104, and to which the synonyms of 

 Lobel, Gerarde and Camerarius, quoted in Fl. Brit, belong, so 

 nearly resembles this plant, that I have hitherto confounded 

 them, supposing the absence or presence of tubercles to be va- 

 riable. Linnaeus had already fallen into the same error. A 

 more strict scrutiny has proved them distinct, and justified 

 Mr. Hudson in establishing the present species, whose very 

 astringent root has been celebrated as a cure for the scurvy. 

 The real aquaticus has its leaves heart-shaped at the base, and 

 the permanent petals are broadly ovate, more finely veined, a 

 little toothed, all entirely destitute of tubercles. This is well 

 figured in Camer. Epit. 232 ; Lob, Ic. 285./. 2 j Ger. Em. 389. 

 /. 1 i and Dalech.Hist. 604./. 3. 



R. paludosus, Huds. 154, still remains unascertained. 



** Flowers separated, 



9. R. Acetosa. Common Sorrel. 



Flowers dioecioiis. Leaves oblong, arrow-shaped. Perma- 

 nent petals tuberculated. 



R. Acetosa. Linn. Sp. PL 481. Willd. v. 2. 260. FL Br. 396. 

 EngL Bot. V. 2. t. 127. M'oodv. Med. Bot. t. 69. Hook. Scot. 113. 

 Lapathum n. 1597. HalL Hist. v. 2. 274. 

 L. acetosum vulgare. Raii Syn. 143. 

 Oxalis. Fuchs. Hist. 464./. 



O. sive Acetosa. Matth. Valgr. v. 1 . 405./ Ger. Em. 396./. 

 O. vulgaris. Bauh. Hist. v. 2. 989./ 990. 

 O. major. Camer. Epit. 230./ 

 Acetosa. Brunf. Herb. v. 2. 6S.f. 

 A. pratensis. Bauh. Pin. 114. 



/3. A. montana maxima, Bauh. Pin. 1 14. Dill, in Raii Syn. 143. 

 Oxalis sylvatica maxima. Bauh. Hist. v. 2. 990. 



In meadows and pastures, common. 



Perennial. June. 



Root long- and tapering, astringent, somevv^hat woody. Herb smooth, 

 powerfully and agreeably acid. Stem from 1 to 2 feet high, erect, 

 simple, leafy, striated. Lower leaves stalked, somewhat ovate j 

 arrow-shaped, with 2 lateral teeth ; upper sessile, more oblong 

 and narrower. Stipula interior, tubular, membranous, fringed. 

 Clusters erect, compound, whorled, leafless. Barren jl. green, 

 with a reddish tinge. Pet. ovate, rather larger than the calyx. 

 Anth. pale yellow. Fertile ji. on a separate plant, rather redder. 

 Cat. at length reflexed. Permanent pet. ovate, obtuse, red, en- 

 tire, each bearing a pale oblong tubercle. 



If Dillenius be correct in the synonyms which he applies to our (3, 

 found by Mr. Llwyd in Merioneti.sliire, that supposed variety is 



