BUCKWHEAT FAMILY 201 
1. RUMEX, L. 
Erect herbs, annual or perennial. Stems branching, grooved; leaves in 
some of the species mostly grouped about the root, in others alternate 
along the stem. Calyx of 6 sepals, the 3 inner ones conspicuously larger 
than the others in fruit; stamens 6, opposite the sepals; pistil divided 
into 3 parts with tufted or stellate summits (stigmas). Flowers in great 
numbers disposed along the stems in groups, these groups branching, 
simple or in whorls. The fertile and sterile flowers are found on different 
plants or in separate groups on the same plant or mingled in the same 
groups. 
Leaves arrow-head- or halberd-shaped; stems and leaves sour to the taste, low 
herbs. 
Sepals of the fruit-hull not longer than the fruit. 
Exterior sepals below the fruit, erect . of eel tan A cetoselia 
Exterior sepals below the fruit, turned down . .- R. Acetosa 
Sepals of the fruit-hull several times longer than the fruit R. hastatulus 
Leaves not arrow-head- or halberd-shaped. 
Leaves not heart-shaped at base. 
Margins of leaves not wavy. 
Fruit-hull wings diamond-shaped . . . . . R.  salicifolius 
Fruit-hull wings club-shaped . . . . . . R._ verticillatus 
Fruit-hull wings heart-shaped . . . . . - R. altissimus 
Margins of leaves wavy. 
Seeds swings: scarcely toothed 5) 2) ssn <)) stun R. Patientia 
Seediawines) toothed) sci) leer ne) el bee ie en orttanaice 
Leaves heart-shaped at base. 
Flowers in a dense almost uninterrupted spike . . MR. persicarioides 
Flowers in loose interrupted spikes. 
Seed wee iBeatueheped not toothed. Lear borders wavy. 
. ames Net c= comes ee R. crispus 
Seed wings spatula- formed | 5 . R. sanguineus 
Seed wings arrow-head-shaped with long” spines R. obtusifolius 
§ Leaves mostly clustered about base, halberd-shaped; leaves and stem 
acid 
1. R. Acetosella, L. (Fig. 3, pl. 32.) Fiero Sorret. SHEEP Sor- 
REL. Leaves narrow, the base lobes spreading, 1 to 4 in. long, usually 
broader at or above the middle than elsewhere except the lobes. Upper 
leaves lance-shaped, not lobed. Flowers crowded in erect, somewhat 
branching clusters. Fruit longer than the greenish perianth. Common 
in dry fields. 
2. R. hastatulus, Muhl. EncrenMann’s Sorret. Base lobes of leaves 
usually less conspicuous than in No. 1, but sometimes more, leaves 1 to 5 
in. long; stem leaves linear; collaret silvery; perianth greenish, as long or 
longer than the fruit. Sea coasts, southern section of our region. March 
to August. 
3. R. Acetosa, L. (Fig. 11, pl. 32.) Sorrer. Sour Dock. Lobes 
extending backward almost parallel with the leaf stalk; lower leaves 
with long leaf-stalks, upper with none, Flower clusters more crowded 
than in No. 1, or No. 2. Exterior sepals turned backward. Introduced. 
§$§ Leaves neither halberd-shaped nor heart-shaped at base. Borders not 
wavy 
4. R, salicifolius, Weinm. (Fig. 5, pl. 32.) Pate Dock. WILLow- 
LEAVED Dock. (R. americanus, Meisn.) Plant erect or spreading, 1 to 
3 ft. high. Leaves narrow lance-shaped, acute at each end; panicle of 
flowers interrupted, at least at lower part, clusters dense, of pale green 
