132 



45. POLYGONACE.E. 



herbs, with simple, alternate loaves, and thin membranous 

 stipules forming a sheath round the stem. 



Perianth-segments 6, unequal, the 3 inner 

 ones closing over the fruit; styles, 3, with 

 fringed stigmas. 

 Three outer segments small, 3 inner ones 



large Rfmex 1 



Three outer segments spiny, 3 inner ones 



small Emex 2 



Perianth-segments 5, subequal POLYGONrM 3 



1. RUMEX, L. 



Perianth-segments 6, herbaceous ; stamens 6 ; fruit 3- 

 angled, free from, but covered by the enlarged inner seg- 

 ments of the perianth, which resemble the valves of a cap- 

 sule ; flowers in false-whorls, forming long racemes or 

 panicles. 



Leaves hastate; flowers unisexual 



Leaves not hastate, usually rounded at base ; 

 flowers bisexual. 



Fruiting valves with long teeth 



Fruiting valves entire or scarcely toothed. 



Valves oblong; panicle loose 



Valves almost circular; panicle dense ... 



B. AcrlnsrUa 1 



I), indchrr 2 



1{. con yJ II III II (it ux 3 

 li. crixpiis A 



1. Rumex Acetosella, 



L. Sheep-sorrel. Slender peren- 

 nial, acid in taste, with creep- 

 ing rootstock ; leaves all stalk- 

 ed, oblong, usually hastate, 

 auricle.s spreading, .sometimes 

 divided twice or thrice at base ; 

 .stipules silvery-white ; flowers 

 small, the 2 sexes on different 

 plants, in .slender panicles ; outer 

 fruiting segments erect, the 

 valves scarcely as long as the 

 fruit. 



Roadsides, pastures. — Sept.- 

 Nov. — Temperate regions of the 

 globe. 



2. R. pulcher, L. Fiddle 

 Dock. Biennial or perennial, 

 with erect stem and numerous 

 stiff branches, spreading almost 

 horizontally; leaves stalked, the 

 radical ones oblong-cordate and 

 often contracted in the centre 

 like a fiddle ; whorls di.stant, in long, loo.se. sonu-what leafy 

 racemes; pedicel jointetl near the base, a little shorter than 

 the fruiting valves, which are oval-triangular, usually all 



Rumex Acetosella. 



