LAURACE/E. 305 



Moist grounds, N. S. June. %. — Stem 2 — 3 feet high. Introduced from 

 Europe. Sharp-pointed Dock. 



6. JR. obtusifolius Linn. : stem roughish ; radical leaves cordate-ohlong, 

 obtuse ; upper ones narrower ; valves ovate, toothed, one of ^hem with a 

 tubercle. 



Woods and fields. N. Y. to Virg. June, July. %.—Stem 2—3 feet high, 

 paniculately branched. Leaves very large. Flowers in long nearly leafless ra- 

 cemes. Introduced from Europe. Obtuse-leaved Dock. 



** JF^ lowers dioecious. Valves without tubercles. 



9. R. Acetosella Linn. : leaves lanceolate-hastate ; lobes acute, spreading ; 

 racemes paniculate ; valves ovate, entire, without tubercles. 



Fields, &c. Throughout the U. S. June, July. %..--Stem 6—12 inches 

 high. Racemes paniculate, at length becoming purple. Fertile flowers similar 

 to the sterile, but less common. The plant has a pleasant acid taste, owing to 

 the presence of binoxalate of potassa. Sheep Sorrel. 



3. OXYRIA. Hill.— Oxyriei. 

 (From the Greek o^vs, acid ; in allusion to the qualities of its leaves.) 

 Perianth 4 -leaved ; two inner leaves larger. Stamens 6. 

 Styles 2. Nut triquetrous, with a broad winged membranous 

 margin. 



O. reniformis Hook. Rumex digynus Linn. 



Moist ravines. On the summit of the White Mountains, N. H. Odkes. 

 July, Aug. %.. — Stem 8 — 10 inches high, often naked. Radical leaves nume- 

 rous, all reniform, on long petioles. Racemes and peduncles branched, with 

 minute bracts at the base of each ramification. Flowers erect, small. 



Kidneyform-leaved Oxyria. 



Order CIY. LAURACE^.— Laurels. 



Perianth 4 — 6 -cleft, imbricated. Stamens definite, opposite 

 the segments of the perianth and usually twice as numerous ; 

 anthers adnate, 2 — 4-celled, bursting by a longitudinal valve. 

 Glands usually present at the base of the inner filaments. 

 Ovary superior, single ; style simple ; stigma obtuse. Fruit a 

 berry or drupe, naked or covered. Seed without albumen ; 

 embryo inverted. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves without stipules, 

 alternate. Flowers in panicles or umbels. 



1. LAURUS. ZvmTi.— Bay Tree. 

 (The ancient name for the Bay* Tree.) 

 Dioecious. Perianth colored, 5 — 6-parted. Fertile stamens 

 9, arranged in three series, the six outer ones with simple dis- 

 tinct filaments ; three inner ones with two glands at the base 

 of each. Ovary superior. Drupe 1 -seeded. 



