in Extra-Tropical Countries. 335 



Rubus ursinus, Chamisso and Schlechtendahl. (R. macropetalus, Douglas.) 



California and Oregon. An unisexual shrub. Fruit black, oval- 

 cylindric, particularly sweet. Readily rendered spontaneous. It 

 would lead too far to enumerate other utilitarian kinds of Rubus, 

 although altogether about one hundred genuine species do occur, 

 which render the genus one of very wide dispersion over the 

 globe. 



Rubus villosus, Aiton. 



Eastern North-America, reaching Canada, there the ordinary 

 Blackberry-bush. Growth tall. Fruit large and pleasant (Asa Gray). 

 The Rochelle- and Lawton- varieties are of this species (C. Koch). 

 The root-bark is praised for medicinal purposes. 



Rumex Acetosa, Linn. 



The Kitchen- Sorrel. Europe, Middle and Northern Asia to Japan, 

 also in the frigid zone of North-America. Endures the frosts of 

 Norway northward to lat. 71 10' (Schuebeler). A perennial herb. 

 The tender varieties, particularly the Spanish one (R. Hispanicus, 

 Koch), also the alpine one (R. montanus, Desfontaines) serve as 

 pleasant acidulous vegetables, but must be used in moderation, as 

 their acidity, like that of the species of Oxalis (Wood-Sorrel), depends 

 on binoxalate of potash. The South-African R. luxurians, L., serves 

 likewise as culinary sorrel. Aquatic species of Rumex help to solidify 

 embankments subject to floods. 



Rumex hymenosepalus, Torrey. 



Texas, New Mexico. This " Dock," vernacularly known as 

 " Canaigre," has come into use in tanneries, the roots acting by their 

 powerful tan-principle doubly as quick as oak-bark. This may prove 

 a hint for testing other large species of the extensive genus Rumex 

 in this respect. The root of R. hymenosepalus yields in a dry state 

 23^ per cent, rheo-tannic acid. 



Rumex Patientia, Linn<5. 



Middle and Southern Europe, South-Western Asia. Biennial. It 

 is the R. sativus of Plinius according to Fraas. Bears the cold of 

 Norwegian winters to lat. 70. The young leaves furnish a palatable 

 sorrel, like spinach. In cold climes it pushes forth its leaves, before 

 the frost is hardly gone, and thus comes in as one of the first vege- 

 tables of the season. 



Rumex scutatus, Linn4. 



The French Sorrel. Middle and Southern Europe, Northern Africa, 

 Orient. Also perennial, and superior to the foregoing as a culinary 

 plant. They are all of use against scurvy, and most easily reared. 

 Dr. Rosenthal lauds even the common R. crispus (Linne) of Europe 

 and Asia as a spinage-plant; further for culinary purposes, R. pulcher 

 (Linne) and R. bucephalophorus (Linne) from the countries at or near 

 the Mediterranean Sea. 



