192 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



New Mexico: Aztec; Farmington; Mangas Springs; Las Cruces; Gray; mountains 

 west of San Antonio; Ilillsboro. Sandy soil, in the Lower and Upper Sonora zones. 



Cafiaigre is common on the sandy mesas of the southern part of the State, where it 

 is a rather conspicuous plant in the latter part of the winter and in early spring, being 

 about the only green thing to be seen. It commences to grow in January or February, 

 and is ready to bloom by March. It withstands the cold night temperatures well. 

 The tuberous roots, resembling dahlia tubers or, somewhat less, sweet potatoes, 

 contain a relatively high percentage of tannin. An industry was once established in 

 a small way at Deming dependent upon the extraction of tannin from these roots for 

 the preparation of a tanning fluid. The product proved very satisfactory and a 

 European market was found which would take the output, but the supply of tubers 

 was insufficient and people could not be induced to grow them. The plants grow 

 very slowly. The tubers have long been used by the native people for the tanning of 

 skins; they were also used by the Navahos in dying wool yellow. 



3. Rumex occidentalis S. Wats. Proc. Amer. Acad. 12: 253. 1876. 



Type locality: "From Alaska to northern California, eastward to Saskatchewan 

 and Labrador, and southward in the mountains to Colorado and New Mexico." 



Range: As under type locality. 



New Mexico: Pecos Baldy; Middle Fork of the Gila; James Canyon; White Moun- 

 tains; Costilla Valley; Brazos Canyon. Wet ground, especially along streams, in the 

 Canadian and Transition zones. 



A thick-stemmed, large-leaved dock, not uncommon along streams in the moun- 

 tains. It is usually 60 to 90 cm. high, with a large compound panicle, and the fruits 

 are often reddish when ripe. 



4. Rumex britarmica L. Sp. PI. 334. 1753. 

 Type locality: "Habitat in Virginia." 



Range: Northeastern United States and Canada, extending into Colorado, Utah, 

 and New Mexico. 

 New Mexico: Near Fort Bayard (Blumer 115). Wet ground. 



5. Runiex crispus L. Sp. PI. 335. 1753. Yellow dock. 

 Type locality: "Habitat in Europae suculentis." 



Range: An introduced weed, common throughout the United States, in cultivated 

 fields and waste ground. 



New Mexico: Common nearly throughout the State. 



The plant is often a troublesome weed in alfalfa fields and along ditch banks. The 

 leaves are sometimes gathered and cooked as "greens." 



6. Rumex altissimus Wood, Class-book 477. 1855. Pale dock. 

 Type locality: "Marshy prairies and borders of streams, Indiana." 



Range: Massachusetts to Colorado, Maryland, Texas, and New Mexico. 

 New Mexico: Mangas Springs. Damp ground. 



7. Rumex ellipticus Greene, Pittonia 4: 234. 1900. 



Type locality: In fields and along river banks at Roswell, New Mexico. Type 

 collected by Earle (no. 272). 

 Range: Known only from the Pecos Valley of New Mexico. 

 New Mexico: Roswell; near Lake Arthur. Lower Sonoran Zone. 

 The species is doubtfully distinct from R. altissimus. 



8. Rumex mexicanus Meisn. in DC. Prodr. 14: 45. 1856. 

 Type locality: "In Mexico circa Leon." 



Range: Throughout the Rocky Mountains and across the continent northward, 

 extending south into Mexico. 



