44^ THE polygonum: family. 



radical ones often 8 or 9 inches by 3 or 4, rounded at the top, and cordate 

 at the base, the upper ones nan-ower and more pointed ; in the looser and 

 more distinct whorls of ilowers, and the less crowded panicles, although not 

 near so spreading as in the red-veined D.; and especially in the inner seg- 

 ments of the perianth, which, although often broadly ovate, are never cor- 

 date, and are bordered below the middle by a few small teeth, usually ending 

 in a fine point. As in the curled Z>., one or aU three segments have a small 

 tubercle at the base. 



In the same situations and at least as widely spread and as common as 

 the ev/rled D., with which and the red-veined D. it is usually mixed. Very 

 abundant in Britaia. Fl. summer. 



4. ^ITater Dock. Rumex Hydrolapathum, Huds. 

 {R. aquations, Eng. Bot. t. 2104.) 



Stem 3 to 5 feet high, slightly branched. Leaves long, lanceolate or ob- 

 long, usually pointed, and flat or only verj minutely crisped at the edges ; 

 the lower ones often 1 to 2 feet long, narrowed at the base into a long erect 

 footstalk. Panicle long and rather dense, leafy at the base, the branches 

 scarcely spreading. Inner perianth-segments ovate, not so broad as i^ the 

 curled D., and never cordate, entire or scarcely toothed, with a large oblong 

 tubercle on all tliree, or rarely wanting on one of them. 



On the edges of streams and pools, and in watery ditches, in central and 

 northern Europe and Russian Asia, but not an Arctic plant. Generally 

 dispersed over England, Ireland, and southern Scotland. Fl. smmner. 



5. Clustered Dock. Rumez cong'lonieratas, Murr. 

 (JJ. acutus, Eng. Bot. t. 724.) 



Kesembles in many respects the red-veined D., of which it may be a tall, 

 luxuriant variety, showing some approach to the water D. Stem 2 to 3 feet 

 high. Leaves often pointed, as in the water D., but more waved on the 

 edges, and the lower ones often rounded of even cordate at the base. Pani- 

 cle with spreading branches and distinct whorls, as in the red-veined D., 

 but larger. Inner perianth-segments narrow-ovate, rather larger than in 

 the red-veined D., and usually all three equal, with an oblong tubercle upon 

 each. 



In meadows, pastures, and waste places, usually in richer and wetter 

 situations than the red-veined D., widely spread over Europe and central 

 and Russian Asia, except the extreme north, and apparently naturahzed in 

 many other parts of the world. Generally distributed over Britain, but not 

 always readily distinguished from the red-veined D. Fl. summer. 



6. Red-veined Dock. Rumex sang^uineus, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1533.) 

 Stem not so tall as in most of the preceding species, seldom above 2 feet, 

 and more branched. Radical leaves oblong or lanceolate, sometimes cor- 

 date at the base, waved on the edges, and sometimes narrowed in the middle 

 as in the fiddle D. Panicle leafy at the base, with stiiT, though slender, very 

 spreading branches; the whorls of flowers all distinct. Pedicels shorter 

 than in the foregoing, but longer than in the foUowing species. Ermting 

 perianths small ; the inner segments narrow, and entire or scarcely toothed, 

 one about IJ lines long, with a large tubercle, the two others usually smaller, 

 without any or only a very small tubercle. 



