STURTEVANT S NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 513 



gardens by McMahon/ 1806, and Bridgeman,^ 1832. It is mentioned by Dall ' among 

 the edible and useful plants of Kotzebue Sound. In China it is eaten.* 



R. alpinus Linn, mountain rhubarb. 



Europe and the Caucasus. This species is sometimes grown in France but does 

 not appear to have entered American culture. It was grown in England by Gerarde in 

 1597 for use in " physicke " and is described as cultivated there in Miller's Dictionary, 

 1807. It is eaten as an herb in China.' 



R. crispus Linn, curled dock. 



Europe and now naturalized in northeastern America. The leaves of this weed make 

 a spinach highly esteemed by some. 



R. hydrolapathum Huds. wild rhubarb. 



Europe and Asia. This sorrel is eaten in China.' 



R. hymenosepalus Torr. canaigre. 



Western North America. The leaves are occasionally used as a potherb.^ In 

 southern California, this species is extensively used as a substitute for cultivated 

 rhubarb.* 



R. longifolius H. B. & K. 



South America. The acid leaves, immediately they appear above the ground and, 

 indeed, throughout the summer, are eaten by the Eskimos of the West, by handfuls as 

 an antiscorbutic' 



R. luxurians Linn. 



South Africa. This species serves as a culinary sorrel.'" 



R. montanus Desf. French sorrel. 



Europe. This species is cultivated in France and is much used as a salad. It is an 

 important article of diet in the extreme north of Europe. The Norwegians eat the leaves 

 with milk or mixed with meal and baked. In India, this sorrel is used in soups and for 

 imparting a peculiarly fine flavor to omelets. This species occitrs in French gardens under 

 two types, the green-leaved and the crimped-leaved. In 1863, Burr " describes French 

 sorrel among American garden esculents. In India, it is said by Firminger '^ to be an 

 excellent ingredient of soups and imparts a peculiarly fine flavor to omelets. 



McMahon, B. Amer. Card. Cal. 320. 1806. 

 ' Bridgeman Young Card. Asst. 107. 1857. 



' Dall U. S. D. A. Rpt. 423. 1870. 



'Smith, F. P. Conlrib. Mat. Med. China 87.- 1871. 



' Ibid. 



Ibid. 



' Saunders, W. U. S. D. A. Rpt. 364. 1879. 



*Paific Rur. Press ^-ji. 1879. 



Seemann, B. Journ. Anthrop. Soc. 3: CCClll. 1865. (R. domesticus) 

 "Mueller, P. Set. Pis. 208. 1876. 



" Burr, F. Field, Card. Veg. 308. 1863. 



" Firminger, T. A. C. Card. Ind. 142. 1874. 



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