Rumex. POLYGONACE^E. 9 



not undulate, glaucous : panicle usually open, somewhat leafy, the flowers crowded 

 upon the branches : pedicels slender, 1 to 3 lines long : valves ovate-rhomboidal to 

 broadly deltoid, 1| to 2 lines long, entire or denticulate, usually with very large 

 callosities : akene a line long. Meisner, DC. Prodr. xiv. 47. 



In the valleys through the State and along the coast, ranging northward to Alaska and east- 

 ward across the continent. Readily distinguished by the narrow leaves attenuate at base. Cali- 

 foniian specimens have more frequently the valves denticulate, forming the var. denticulatus of 

 Torrey, Bot. Mex. Bound. 178. The grains vary much in their development. 



5. R. Berlandieri, Meisner. Stems stout, from a fusiform root, 2 to 4 feet 

 high : leaves narrowly lanceolate, very undulate, usually acuminate, narrowed 

 below to an abruptly attenuate or somewhat truncate base, about 6 inches long or 

 more, on very short petioles : panicle rather open with numerous dense verticils of 

 flowers : pedicels a line or two long, jointed below the middle : valves ovate-lanceo- 

 late, 1 \ lines long, entire : akene a line long. DC. Prodr. xiv. 45. 



In the valley of the Colorado (Palmer), and eastward to New Mexico and Texas. Specimens of 

 Kellogg & Harford's collection (n. 867), from Fort Point, seem to belong to this species. 



6. R. crispus, Linn. A similar species, but the leaves are more decidedly 

 truncate at base and on rather longer petioles : verticils less dense, the slender 

 pedicels being 2 to 4 lines long, jointed near the base : valves ovate or cordate. 



It has been collected at Oakland, Monterey, and elsewhere, and will doubtless become common 

 through much of the State. From Europe, now naturalized in many parts of the world. 



7. R. conglomeratus, Murray. With broader ovate to lanceolate leaves, the 

 lower cordate at base, slightly undulate : panicle open and leafy, with slender 

 branches : pedicels very short, stout and geniculate in fruit, jointed near the base : 

 valves small, all grain- bearing, ovate-lanceolate, acute. 



Likewise introduced, originally from Europe, and collected at various localities through the 

 entire length of the State. 



Valves with slender awned teeth, grain-bearing : somewhat pubescent or 



scabrous. 



8. R. maritimus, Linn. Annual or sometimes biennial, minutely pubescent, 

 simple or diffusely branched, the low stems erect or procumbent : leaves linear- 

 lanceolate, usually truncate or cordate at base, 1 to 4 inches long, mostly on short 

 petioles, somewhat wavy-margined : flowers in numerous dense verticils along the 

 slender branches, on very short slender pedicels : valves a line long, ovate-lance- 

 olate, all grain-bearing and with 2 or 3 long-awned teeth on each side. Meisner, 

 DC. Prodr. xiv. 59. R. persicarioides, Hook. Fl. Bor.-Am. ii. 130. 



Not reported from west of the Sierra Nevada, but common eastward in the valleys in moist 

 places, ranging north to Washington Territory and east to New Mexico, the Saskatchewan, and on 

 the Atlantic coast ; also in Europe and Northern Asia. 



9. R. obtusifolius, Linn. Perennial, more or less scabrous : stems erect, tall 

 and rather slender: leaves ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, acute or the lower 

 obtuse, cordate or truncate at base, 6 inches to a foot long or more, on slender peti- 

 oles : flowers in numerous loose whorls, on long pedicels jointed below the middle : 

 valves ovate-deltoid, 2 or 3 lines long, with 1 to 3 setaceous teeth on each side, 

 usually a single valve grain-bearing. 



A European and Asiatic species, sparingly introduced ; Alameda County, Kellogg. 



10. R. pulcher, Linn. Perennial, erect, with divaricate leafy branches becom- 

 ing rigid : leaves scabrous beneath, oblong to lanceolate, acute or acuminate, the 

 lower cordate or obtuse at base : flowers in numerous verticils, on short stout and 

 rigid pedicels : valves ovate, 2 or 3 lines long, with 4 to 6 rigidly awned teeth on 

 each side. 



A species of the Mediterranean region, sparingly introduced. 



