WASTES AND WAYSIDES IN SUMMER 



207 



2. The Curled Dock (i?. crispus).— Very similar to the Broad- 

 leaved Dock in size and habit, but flowering somewhat earlier. 

 The lower leaves are much narrower, six to eight inches long, lance- 

 olate, pointed, and wavy at the edges. The upper leaves are small 

 and narrower, passing gradually into still smaller bracts towards the 

 lower flo wers. The 

 flowers are in crowded 

 whorls, on slender 

 pedicels which are 

 longer than the peri- 

 anths; and the inner 

 segment of the peri- 

 anth is enlarged, cor- 

 date, but not toothed. 



We have now to 

 note two species of 

 Spurge (Euphorbia) 

 that grow by the way- 

 side ; but before doing 

 so it will be well to 

 make ourselves ac- 

 quainted with the 

 general characters of 

 the interesting group 

 to which they belong. 

 The Spurges are herbs 

 with a milky juice, 

 and a stem which is 

 usually nubranched be- 

 low, bearing alternate 

 leaves. The flowering 

 branches, towards the 

 top of the plant, gene- 

 rally radiate from one 



point, forming an umbel of from two to five or more rays 

 that proceed from the axil of one or more leaves. Each 

 ray is usually forked, and sometimes repeatedly so, with 

 a pair of leaves at each angle, and a httle head of yellowish- 

 green flowers between the branches. Each flower-head is surrounded 

 by a small cup of united bracts, inside which is a whorl of little 

 yellow or brownish glands, placed horizontally. In the centre of 



THE CURLED DOCK. 



