POLYGONACEJE. 45 



truncate at the base, subohtuse, cut into numerous rather short sub- 

 ulate spmes in the basal half, very strongly alveolate-reticulate, each 

 of them with, a jDrominent lanceolate-cylindrical tubercle ; that on the 

 uppermost petal larger than that on the two others; tubercles fre- 

 quently squamose-muricate. 



By roadsides and in waste places, particularly in chalky and sandy 

 districts. Rather common, and generally distributed in the south of 

 England, extending north to Lincoln, Notts, Stafford, and Pembroke ; 

 also on the ballast hills at the mouth of the Tyne, but probably not 

 native there. It has been reported from Lanarkshire in Scotland, but 

 doubtless erroneously. Very rare and doubtfully native in Ireland, 

 where it is confined to the vicinity of Dublin. 



England, Ireland ? Biennial or Perennial. Late Summer, Autumn. 



Rootstock slender, producing the first year a rosette of spreading 

 leaves; with the lamina 2 to 6 inches long, exceeding the petiole, 

 decaying in the second year shortly after the plant flowers. These 

 leaves are remarkable for being contracted above the base, so as to 

 be fiddleshaped. The second year 1 or more flowering stems are sent 

 up. Stem at first erect, afterwards arching and flexuous, 6 inches to 

 2 feet long; the branches slender, wiry, divaricate, often forming 

 nearly a right angle with the main stem, and frequently curved down- 

 wards at the apex. Leaves becoming smaller the higher they are 

 placed on the stem. Whorls remote, most of them leafy, few-flowered, 

 arranged in a lax straggling panicle. Pedicels short, thick, abruptly 

 recurved, much less liable to disarticulate when the fruit is mature 

 than those of the four preceding species. Fruit petals pale olive, 

 ^ inch long, with the veins extremely prominent, especially towards 

 the base; the lower half or two-thirds with 4 to 8 stout marginal 

 spines of unequal size, the longest scarcely attaining a length equal to 

 the width of the petal; tubercles pale or reddish, slender, but very 

 prominent, gradually attenuated into the midrib ; the largest tubercle 

 more than half the length of the petals ; that on the 2 lower (which, 

 from the curving of the pedicels, are also the inner) petals, smaller and 

 shorter. Nut y^- inch long, ovate, triquetrous, brown, nearly smooth, 

 slightly shining. Plant dull green, glabrous, or with only a few hairs 

 in British specimens, though in the south of Europe it is frequently 

 densely clothed with cartilaginous hairs when it is the R. divaricatus 

 of Linnaeus. 



Fiddle Dock. 



French, Patience violon. 



