422 



POLYGONACE^ 



7. R. obtusifolius (Broad-leaved Dock). — A tall, stout species, 

 2 — 3 feet high, with ascending branches ; lower leaves ovate- 

 oblong, cordate, blunt, finely crenate, wavy, with slender stalks ; 

 upper oblong-lanceolate ; flowers in distant whorls, leafless above ; 

 inner perianth-segments long, triangular, blunt, with netted veins 

 and usually strong teeth at the base, and an ovoid red or brown 

 wart. — Waste placea; common. — Fl. July — September. Perennial. 



8. R. cr i s pits 

 (Curled Dock).— The 

 commonest of the 

 Docks, I — 3 feet high, 

 branched ; leaves stalk- 

 ed, lanceolate, acute, 

 wavy, and crisped ; 

 ilowers in crowded 

 whorls forming a pani- 

 cle, with erect branches, 

 leafy below, often 

 tinged with a bright 

 red ; i^mer perianth-seg- 

 ments equal, cordate, 

 blunt, netted, green or 

 red, with a small, 

 smooth wart. — Waste 

 places ; far too com- 

 mon. — Fl June — 

 October. Perennial. 



9. R. domesticus 

 (Long - leaved Water 

 Dock). — A very ro- 

 bust, smooth species, 

 I — 4 feet high ; leaves 

 very large, lanceolate, 



Ki MEx ACETosA {Comwofi Sorrei). waved, and crisped, on 



semi-cylindric petioles 

 with slightly raised edges ; -flowers in crowded whorls, forming a 

 large, dense, lobed panicle, leafy at the base only ; inner perianth- 

 segments broadly cordate, membranous, netted, without warts. — 

 Meadows in the north ; frequent ; preferring spots liable to be 

 flooded. — Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



10. R. Hydroldpathuni (Great Water Dock). — A picturesque 

 plant, 3 — 6 feet high, erect, branched, smooth ; leaves often more 

 than a foot long, lanceolate, acute, often cordate at the base, 

 finely crenate on long petioles which are not winged : flowers 



