polygonace.t;:. 49 



Scotland. Perenniiil. Late Summer, Autumn. 



This plant differs from R. pratensis in the lower leaves being more 

 decidedly cordate, the fruit petals larger, i to f inch long, denticulated 

 nearly and sometimes quite to the point ; the teeth are shorter than in 

 R. pratensis. Nut larger (J- inch long), darker coloured and more acu- 

 minated towards the apex. The stem generally lias a few hairs on the 

 Btria3, as in R. obtusifolius, from which it is distinguished by its much 

 Jarger broader and more cordate fruit petals, destitute of distinct 

 spines, and without a long entire point. 



This, as suggested by Dr. Walker Arnott, is probably a hybrid be- 

 tween R. obtusifolius and R. domesticus; but, after careful observation, 

 neither Mr. He wett Watson nor myself can see any difference between 

 Dr. Walker Arnott's specimens and a Swedish example of R. conspersus 

 sent to Mr. Watson by Mr. Carl Hartman. Judging from Fries' 

 description, however, the plant appears to come nearer R. cordifolius 

 of Hornemann ; but as Hartman must be acknowledged to be a better 

 judge of his father's species than Fries, I have retained the name of 

 " conspersus." 



It is greatly to be wished that this plant could be more carefully 

 examined in a recent state, and that both it and R. pi'atensis could be 

 raised from seed, if possible, when perhaps the question might be 

 settled whether they-=]*e hybrids or distinct species. 



Hartman' s Dock, 



SPECIES rX.— RUM EX CRISPUS. Lmn.- 



Plate MCCXVIII. 



Leaves thin, the radical ones oblong-elliptical or elliptical, abrupt or 

 gradually attenuated at the base, subacute, repand and strongly crisped 

 at the margins; petioles semicylindrical, flat above, with a prominent 

 margin on each side decurrent from the base of the lamina ; lower stem 

 leaves similar to the radical ones, but narrower, more acute, and on 

 shorter stalks ; leaves at the base of the whorls strapshaped, subsessile. 

 Branches of the panicle erect, leafless except at the base. Pedicels 

 about twice as long as the fruit petals, articulated a little above the 

 base, spreading nearly all round the stem. Flowers j^erfect. Enlarged 

 petals in fruit roundish-deltoid, subcordate at the base, subobtuse, 

 entire or faintly denticulate, rather strongly reticulated; one of the 

 two lower ones considerably smaller than the upper one, and each of 

 these with a very slender indistinct linear tubercle, often reduced to 

 merely a thickened midrib, or more rarely with a lanceolate-ovoid 

 tubercle, the upper petal always Avith a large rather short ovate-ovoid 

 tubercle ; tubercles not muricated. 



VOL. VIII. n 



