POLYGONACE. 45 
truncate at the base, subobtuse, cut into numerous rather short sub- 
ulate spines in the basal half, very strongly alveolate-reticulate, each 
of them with a prominent lanceolate-eylindrical tubercle; that on the 
uppermost petal larger than that on the two others; tubercles fre- 
quently squamose-muricate. 
By roadsides and in waste places, particularly in chalky and sandy 
districts. Rather common, and generally distributed in the south of 
England, extending north to Lincoln, Notts, Stafford, and Pembroke ; 
also on the ballast hills at the mouth of the Tyne, but probably not 
native there. It has been reported from Lanarkshire in Scotland, but 
doubtless erroneously. Very rare and doubtfully native in Ireland, 
where it is confined to the vicinity of Dublin. 
England, Ireland? Biennial or Perennial. Late Summer, Autumn. 
Rootstock slender, producing the first year a rosette of spreading 
leaves; with the lamina 2 to 6 inches long, exceeding the petiole, 
decaying in the second year shortly after the plant flowers. These 
leaves are remarkable for being contracted above the base, so as to 
be fiddleshaped. The second year 1 or more flowering stems are sent 
up. Stem at first erect, afterwards arching and flexuous, 6 inches to 
2 feet long; the branches slender, wiry, divaricate, often forming 
nearly a right angle with the main stem, and frequently curved down- 
wards at the apex. Leaves becoming smaller the higher they are 
placed on the stem. Whorls remote, most of them leafy, few-flowered, 
arranged in a lax straggling panicle. Pedicels short, thick, abruptly 
recurved, much less liable to disarticulate when the fruit is mature 
than those of the four preceding species. Fruit petals pale olive, 
1 inch long, with the veins extremely prominent, especially towards 
the base; the lower half or two-thirds with 4 to 8 stout marginal 
spines of unequal size, the longest scarcely attaining a length equal to 
the width of the petal; tubercles pale or reddish, slender, but very 
prominent, gradually attenuated into the midrib; the largest tubercle 
more than half the length of the petals; that on the 2 lower (which, 
from the curving of the pedicels, are also the inner) petals, smaller and 
shorter. Nut 5/; inch long, ovate, triquetrous, brown, nearly smooth, 
slichtly shining. Plant dull green, glabrous, or with only a few hairs 
in British specimens, though in the south of Europe it is frequently 
densely clothed with cartilaginous hairs when it is the R. divaricatus 
of Linnzus. 
Fiddle Dock. 
French, Patience violon 
