514 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



R. patientia Linn, garden patience, herb patience, monk's rhubarb, patience 



DOCK. 



Southern Europe and the Orient and formerly common in gardens as a spinach plant. 

 This plant was introduced into England in 1573. Gerarde ' says "it is an excellent, 

 wholesome pot-herbe." The name monk's rhubarb or rhabarbarum monachorum of Tragus, 

 1552, indicates its presence in the gardens of the monasteries. It was called patientia 

 by Parkinson, 1640, and is noted by Turner,^ 1538, as having in England the common 

 name of patience. It was included among America esculents by McMahon,' 1806, and 

 by Bridgeman,* 1832. Pallas ' says the yoiuig leaves are eaten with avidity by the 

 Greeks of the Crimea. It was known to Pliny, who calls it Rumex sativus. 

 R. sanguineus Linn, bloodwort. bloody-veined dock. 



Exorope and naturalized in eastern North America. This weed of waste and culti- 

 vated grounds of America is mentioned, under the name bloodwort, by Josselyn,* about 

 the middle of the seventeenth century, as introduced into America. As Gerarde,' 1630, 

 says, it was sown in his time for a potherb in most gardens and as Ray,' 1686, also says, 

 it was planted in gardens as a vegetable, we may believe that it was in former use in 

 colonial gardens in Massachusetts. Its use is as a spinach, and for this purpose the leaves 

 of the wild plant are occasionally collected at the present time. 

 R. scutatus Liim. garden sorrel. 



Europe and the Orient and said to have been introduced into England in 1596. This 

 species is mentioned in England by Gerarde ' in 1597, but he does not indicate its general 

 cultivation ; he calls it oxalis franca seu romana. It is more acid than the preceding species 

 and has displaced it largely from English culture. This species is mentioned by many 

 of the early botanists and is under extensive culture in continental Etu-ope.'" It was 

 formerly cultivated in English gardens as a spinach and is still grown extensively on the 

 continent of Europe for this purpose." The leaves are also used as a salad. Garden 

 sorrel was mentioned among American garden products by McMahon,'* 1806, and by 

 Bridgeman," 1832. The seed is still offered by some of ovu^ seedsmen who recommend 

 it under the name garden sorrel. 

 R. vesicarius Linn, bladder dock. 



South Europe, middle Asia and north Africa. This species is used as a sorrel.'* 



' Gerarde, J. Herb. igi. 1633 or 1636. 2nd Ed. 



2 Turner Libellus 1538. 



' McMahon, B. Amer. Card. Col. 550. 1806. 



* Bridgeman Young Gard. Asst. loy. 1857. 

 ' Pallas, P. S. Trav. Russia 2:449. 1803. 



Josseljm, J. New Eng. Rar. 114. 1672. 

 ' Gerarde, J. Herb. ^go. 1633. 



' Ray Hisl. PI. 1 74. 1 686. 



Gerarde, J. Herb. $!<). 1597. 

 "Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2: i^g. 1855. 

 " Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2:ii38. 1855. 

 " McMahon, B. Amer. Card. Cat. 583. 1806. 

 Bridgeman Young Card. Asst. 1832. 

 "Mueller, F. Set. Pis. 433. 1891. 



