100 POLYaONE^ 



bearing alternate leaves, having at the base membranous sheathing stipules. 

 The stems and leaves are acid or astringent, the roots usually nauseous and 

 medicinal ; while the seeds are farinaceous and esculent. A few are hand- 

 some plants, but many, like the dock, Avould be rather regarded as weeds. 

 The true rhubarb is contained in this order. 



1. Persicaria {Poljigonam). — Perianth deeply 5-cleft, not falling off; 

 stamens 5—8 ; styles 2 or 3 ; fruit a triangular or flattened nut. Name 

 hompolf/s, many, and gonu, a joint, from the much-jointed stems. 



2. Dock {Rumex). — Perianth deeply G-cleft, in two rows, the interior 

 segments large ; stamens 6 ; st^des 3 ; fruit a triangular nut, covered by the 

 enlarged inner perianth. Name of unknown origin, used by the Romans for 

 these plants. 



3. Mountain Sorrel (Onjria). — Perianth deeply 4-cleft, in two rows, 

 the interior segments large ; stamens 6 ; styles 2 ; fruit a flattened nut, with 

 a membranous wing. Name from the Greek oxi/s, sharp, from the acid flavour 

 of the stems and foliage. 



1. Persicaria, BisroRX, Knot-grass, and Buckwheat (Foli/gonum). 



1. Common Bistort or Snake- weed (P. histdrta). — Stem simple, 

 erect, bearing a single dense spike ; leaves egg-shaped, somewhat heart- 

 shaped, waved, the lower ones on winged stalks ; perennial. The Bistort is 

 common on moist grassy places, and is, from Jiuie to September, a handsome 

 plant, bearing a cylindrical spike of small flesh-coloured flowers. The stem 

 is a foot or a foot and a half high ; the upper leaves have long sheaths, and 

 the flowers are on short footstalks, with bracts at their base. The name of 

 Bistort originated in the twisted form of its large root, or, rather, underground 

 stem. This is black on the outside, and red within, and is one of our most 

 powerful vegetable astringents. It contains in abundance both tannin and 

 gallic acid, and is a good tonic medicine ; and as the tannin is found, by 

 M. Haemstaedt, of Berlin, to be twice as strong as that of oak-bark, the root 

 might be well employed in the preparation of leather. Both the leaves and 

 roots were believed by the old herbalists to have " a powerful faculty to resist 

 all poison," and to be very useful in the plague, and other forms of jDCstilence ; 

 the root also was, and still is, in country places, used as a cure for toothache ; 

 and a decoction of the leaves or the powdered root was considered a good 

 outward or inward remedy for wounds. Thus we have Spenser saying — 



"Then whether it divine tobacco were, 

 Or panach?e8\, or Polygony, 

 She found and broiiglit it to her patient deare, 

 Who all this while lay bleeding out his hart-blood ncare. " 



When the tannin is removed from the root, a starch-like substance remains, 

 which can be used as food ; and bread is made in Russia both from this and 

 the root of a Siberian species. The leaves and tender shoots may be boiled 

 for the table ; and in the north of England, where the young tops are com- 

 monly eaten in herb puddings, they are called Easter-man-giant. It was 

 usual in Manchester a few years since to prepare these leaves in various ways 

 for the daily meal. The plant is there commonly called Patience Dock, and 

 is apparently the herb recommended by M. Soyer, in his very popular book 



