POLYGONACEZ. 49 
Scotland. Perennial. Late Summer, Autumn. 
This plant differs from R. pratensis in the lower leaves being more 
decidedly cordate, the fruit petals larger, ¢ to > inch long, denticulated 
nearly and sometimes quite to the point; the teeth are shorter than in 
R. pratensis. Nut larger (4 inch long), darker coloured and more acu- 
minated towards the apex. The stem generally has a few hairs on the 
striz, as in R. obtusifolius, from which it is distinguished by its much 
larger broader and more cordate fruit petals, destitute of distinct 
spines, and without a long entire point. 
This, as suggested by Dr. Walker Arnott, is probably a hybrid be- 
tween RB. obtusifolius and R. domesticus; but, after careful observation, 
neither Mr. Hewett Watson nor myself can sce any difference between 
Dr. Walker Arnott’s specimens and a Swedish example of R. conspersus 
sent to Mr. Watson by Mr. Carl Hartman. Judging from Fries’ 
description, however, the plant appears to come nearer It. cordifolius 
of Hornemann; but as Hartman must be acknowledged to be a better 
judge of his father’s species than Fries, I have retained the name of 
* conspersus.” 
It is greatly to be wished that this plant could be more carefully 
examined in a recent state, and that both it and R. pratensis could be 
raised from seed, if possible, when perhaps the question might be 
settled whether they be hybrids or distinct species. 
Hartman’s Dock. 
SPECIES IX—RUMEX CRISPUS. Linn: 
Prats MCCXVIIL 
Leaves thin, the radical ones oblong-elliptical or elliptical, abrupt or 
gradually attenuated at the base, subacute, repand and strongly crisped 
at the margins; petioles semicylindrical, flat above, with a prominent 
margin on each side decurrent froin the base of the lamina; lower stem 
leaves similar to the radical ones, but narrower, more acute, and on 
shorter stalks; leaves at the base of the whorls strapshaped, subsessile. 
Branches of the panicle erect, leafless except at the base. Pedicels 
about twice as long as the fruit petals, articulated a little above the 
base, spreading nearly all round the stem. Flowers perfect. Enlarged 
petals in fruit roundish-deltoid, subcordate at the base, subobtuse, 
entire or faintly denticulate, rather strongly reticulated; one of the 
two lower ones considerably smaller than the upper one, and each of 
these with a very slender indistinct linear tubercle, often reduced to 
merely a thickened midrib, or more rarely with a lanceolate-ovoid 
tubercle, the upper petal always with a large rather short ovate-ovoid 
tubercle; tubercles not muricated. 
VOL. VIII. H 
