138 POPULAR FIELD BOTANY. 
HEexANDRA. TRIGYNIA. 
MonocHLAMYDE. POLYGONACE. 
RUMEX. (Dock.) 
Generic Character. Calyx of three leaves joined at the base. 
Corolla three petals. Nut three-sided, and covered by the 
enlarged petals. 
One species of this genus makes its appearance early, 
the rest scarcely before July and August. ‘They are very 
common plants, but not attractive in form ; with one species, 
known by the name of Sorrel, most young people are ac- 
quainted. 
Rumex Acerosetta. Sheep's Sorrel. This is a small 
species, and being much tinged with red in dry situations, 
or towards the end of summer is easily distinguished. It 
is frequent in dry pastures, and very variable in height (from 
two to ten inches). The leaves also vary in form, but are 
generally halbert-shaped, that is like an axe. 
