Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 479 



Rumex hymenosepalus, Torrey. 



Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Southern California. 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. hymeno- 

 sepalus yields in a dry state 23^ per cent, rheo-tannic acid. W. N. 

 Evans found even 37^ per cent, tanning principle in the dried root 

 according to Dyer. Significant among tan-plants as a yearly yielder 

 from the very commencement. The root is best used fresh or con- 

 verted into an extract, as in drying it deteriorates [Professor Hilgard]. 

 The plant is not of quick growth. Cultivation something like that 

 of potatoes. Irrigation much increases the yield. The foliage 

 serves as a culinary vegetable. 



Rumex occidentalis, S. Watson. 



From New Mexico to Labrador, also in Chili. Cognate to the 

 European and Asiatic R. longifolius (De Candolle). Of this tall 

 perennial dock the aborigines of Alaska extensively use the leaf- 

 stalks boiled as a pleasant acidulous-sweetish food [Krause, Kurtz]. 



Rumex Patientia, Linn& 



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 climates it pushes forth its 

 leaves, before the frost has hardly gone, and thus comes in as one of 

 the first vegetables of the season. 



Rumex scutatus, Linne. 



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 spinach-plant ; further for culinary pur- 

 poses, R. pulcher (Linne) and R. bucephalophorus (Linne) from 

 the countries at or near the Mediterranean Sea. 



, - 



Rumex vesicarius, Linn& 



Southern Europe, Middle Asia, Northern Africa. An annual herb 

 of the same utility as other sorrels. 



Ruscus aculeatus, Linn& 



Middle and Southern Europe, Northern Africa, South-Western 

 Asia. This odd plant serves for forming garden-hedges. The young 

 shoots of this and a few allied plants are edible. 



