468 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



places and to be abundant throughout both islands. "The form with 

 the veins of the leaves green, not red (R. viridis, Sibthorp), is the one 

 most abundant in New Zealand." I have not met with it in Otago. 



Rumex conglomerate, Murr. 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1839. In 1877 Kirk says it 

 is reported from Wellington anonymously in the Education Gazette 

 of 1874, and adds : " It is probable that starved specimens of R. viridis 

 have been mistaken for this." Cheeseman in the Manual (1906) says 

 it occurs, but not commonly, on roadsides and in waste places near 

 Auckland and Wellington. 



Rumex acetosa, Linn. Sorrel 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1864. In the Manual it is stated 

 to be not uncommon in fields and waste places in both islands. 



In Europe the honey-bee (Apis mellificd) visits the flowers for 

 nectar. 



Rumex acetosella, Linn. Sheep's Sorrel 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1864. No doubt an early intro- 

 duction into New Zealand, and at the present time one of the most 

 abundant weeds in the country. It occurs particularly in cultivated 

 ground, but is mostly kept down by sheep wherever they graze 

 freely. It has a certain food-value too in many parts. Liming the 

 land reduces the weed. 



Speaking of the grass-denuded areas of Central Otago, Mr D. 

 Petrie, says: 



Sheep's sorrel (Rumex acetosella), widely spread over all the dry denuded 

 flats and many of the barren hill-slopes, is another important food-plant. 

 It grows fairly well all through the dry season, and being perennial and 

 spreading freely by long creeping rootstocks, it is in little danger of being 

 eaten out 1 . 



Emex australis, Steinh. Three-cornered Jack; 



Spiny Dock ; Cat's Head 



Cheeseman reports that "this has appeared twice in Auckland, 

 but does not seem to increase." This was in 1882. In 1892 it appeared 

 on a heap of ballast in Wellington taken out of the ship ' Silverstream ' 

 from Buenos Ayres; but it did not come up again the second year. 

 Cheeseman in the Manual (1906) reports it from near Auckland and 

 in the Bay of Plenty ; and from Westport on the authority of Townson. 



1 "The Golden Dock (Rumex maritimus, Linn.) is stated, on anonymous autho- 

 rity in the Educational Gazette, vol. I, p. 46 (1874), to occur at Pipitea Point, I 

 cannot but think erroneously, as so conspicuous a plant would, of necessity, have 

 attracted the attention of local botanists." (T. Kirk.) 



