48 KEY AND FLORA 



evergreen shrub, with small, short leaves in clusters along the 

 stems, and the flowers in terminal cymose panicles. 



H. CHORIZAN'THE, Turkish Rugging 



Involucres sessile, tubular, thick in texture, 3-6-ribbed, with 

 as many teeth or divisions, tipped with stiff bristles. Flowers 

 small, 1-3, included in the involucres, often nearly sessile. 

 Stamens generally 9. Ovary smooth and akene triangular. 

 Low, much branched annual herbs with slender branches, very 

 brittle when dry. The leaves are all in a cluster at the base, 

 and the bracts are ternate and usually small. They grow in 

 dry, sandy places, where they often cover the ground as with 

 a veil. The species are numerous, generally local and difficult 

 to distinguish. 



IH. RUMEX, Dock, Sorrel 



Coarse herbs, generally perennial, with acid or bitter juice. 

 Perianth with 3 outer divisions green, the 3 inner generally 

 larger, reddish or yellowish green, becoming large and 

 often with a white grain on the back of one or all of the 

 divisions, which closely cover the 3-sided akene. Styles 3. 

 Stigmas with a tuft of hairs at the top. Leaves with papery 

 stipules sheathing the stem. 



a. R. acetosella L. SORREL, SOUR GRASS. Flowers dioecious, 

 small, in a narrow panicle, becoming reddish. The inner divisions 

 of the perianth do not enlarge over the akene. Leaves thick, hastate. 

 This is very common, spreading by slender rootstocks. The male 

 plants greatly exceed the female in number. Common everywhere. 



b. R. salicifolius Wein. WILLOW-LEAVED DOCK. Stems several, 

 generally spreading and ascending or erect. Leaves light green, 3-6 

 in. long, lanceolate, narrowed to a short petiole. Flowers in a leafy 

 panicle, which becomes dark red as it grows old. Each of the inner 

 divisions of the perianth has a large grain on the outside. Common in 

 moist places everywhere. 



c. R. cris'pus L. CURLY DOCK. Leaves on long stalks with a 

 crisped or curled margin. Flowers in a leafy panicle. The grains 

 are present on all the inner divisions of the perianth. Common. 



d. R. purcher L. Branches widely spreading, leafy, reddish when 

 young, becoming brown and stiff when old. Leaves rough on 

 the lower surface, generally lanceolate and acute. Flowers in 



