RUMEX AcETOSA. | -° ORD. XL. Oleracee. 661 
radical leaves are narrow, oblong, arrow-shaped, of a bright green 
colour, and stand upon long footstalks, but those on the stem are 
without footstalks, and placed alternately: the flowers are pro- 
duced in terminal branched. spikes, partly tinged of a reddish 
colour, and stand upon short slender peduncles: the calyx is com- 
posed of three oval segments: the corolla consists of three petals, 
shaped Tike the divisions of the calyx: the six filaments are short, 
slender, and furnished with erect double anther: the germen is 
triangular, and supports three simple reflexed styles, with bearded 
stigmata: the seeds are naked, single, and of a triangular shape. 
It is common in meadows and pastures, and flowers in June. 
Some writers have referred this plant to the Lapathum quartum* 
of Dioscorides, and to the Lapathum sylvestre, quod alii oxalidem 
appellant, of Pliny.” But as the word «% has been indiscriminately 
used both to signify sharp, with respect to the taste of a plant, and 
in relation to the form of its leaves, there may be a doubt whether 
those authors have done right, in exclusively applying it in the 
former sense as in the name Acetosa.—The leaves of common 
Sorrel have an agreeable acid taste, like that of the Oxalis 
Acetosella, or Wood-sorrel, which we have before described ; 
and as they are medicinally employed for the same purposes, 
what has been already said of that plant will in a great measure 
apply to this; which from being easily procured in-great abund- 
ance may be conveniently substituted for it. Sorrel, taken in 
considerable quantity, or used variously prepared as food, will 
certainly be found of important advantage where a refrigerant and 
antiscorbutic regimen is required ;° and we are told by Linnzus, 
that the Laplanders experience a serum acetosatum to be in this 
respect an useful and pleasant diet.“ 
* L. i. cap. 108. *. b. aretap. 21. 
© See Morin in Hist. de [ Ac. des Sciences, 1708. p. 52. _ Barthol. mee Hanon. 
1671, p. 35. Boerhaave Hist. Plant. L. B. P. ii. p. 540. 
4 Flor, Lapp. p- 94. 
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