POLTGOlfACE.^. 447 



On roadsides, in ditclies, pastures, and waste places, tliroughouf Europe 

 and Russian Asia, except the extreme north, usually accompanying the 

 curled D. and the broad D. Abundant in Britain. Fl. summer. It varies 

 considerably, and often assumes a red tint, especially on the leafstalks and 

 panicle. 



7. Fiddle Dock. Rumex pulcher, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1576.) 



A rather low species, often not a foot high, and seldom 2 feet, with stiff, 

 very spreading branches. Leaves chieily radical, oblong, cordate at the 

 base, and often narrowed in tlie middle. Whorls of flowers all quite dis- 

 tinct, forming very compstct clusters ; the fruiting pedicels tliickened and 

 recurved, shorter than the perianth. Inner segments toothed, as in the 

 broad D., but narrow-ovate, all 3, or only 1 or 2 of them bearing a tubercle. 



On roadsides and in waste places, in central and southern Europe and 

 western Asia, very common in the Mediterranean region, but not extending 

 into northern Germany. In Britain, chiefly in southei-n England and Ire- 

 land, but occurs as far north as Nottingham and Staftbrd. Fl. summer. 



8. Golden Dock. Rumex maritiiuus, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 725.) 



Stem 1 to li feet high, often much branclied. Leaves naiTow-lanceolate 

 or linear. Flowers smaU and very numerous, densely crowded in globular 

 axillary whorls, even the upper floral leaves being much longer than the 

 flowers. Pedicels slender but short. Inner segments of the fruiting peri- 

 anth lanceolate or triangular, fringed with rather long fine teeth, and with 

 a narrow-oblong tubercle upon each segment. The whole plant, and espe- 

 cially the perianth, often assumes a yellowish hue. 



In marshes, chiefly near the sea, in temperate Europe and Russian Asia, 

 extending northwards into Scandinavia. In Britain, apparently confined to 

 England and Ireland. Fl. summer. A more luxuriant variety, with the 

 whorls more distant, and rather shorter points to the teeth of the perianth- 

 segments, has been distinguished as a species under the name of H. palustris 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1932, not good). 



9. Sorrel Dock. Rumex Acetosa, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 127. Sorrel) 



Stems scarcely branched, 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves chiefly radical, oblong, 

 3 to 5 inches long, sagittate at the base with broad pointed auricles, of a 

 bright green, and very acid ; the stem-leaves few, on shorter stalks. Flowers 

 dioecious or sometimes monoecious, in long, terminal, leafless panicles, usually 

 turning red. Inner segments of the fruiting perianth enlarged, orbicular, 

 thin and almost petal-like, quite entire, without any tubercle, but each with 

 a minute scale-hke apiJendage at the base, which, as well as the small outer 

 segments, is turned back on the pedicel. 



In meadows and moist pastures, in Europe, central and Russian Asia, and 

 northern America, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, ascending 

 high into mountain-ranges, anol reappearing in the southern hemisphere. 

 Extends all over Britain, and has long been in cultivation. Fl. summer. 



10. Sheep-sorrel Dock. Rumex Acetosella, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1674. Sheep-sorrel.) 

 A slender plant, from 3 or 4 inches to nearly a foot high, acid like the 



