190 



IIEXANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 



204. RUMEX. Dock, and Sorrel. 

 Linn. Gen. 178. Juss. 82. Fl. Br. 390. Latn. t.27\. Gcertn. i. 1 19. 

 Nat. Ord. see n. 203. 



Cal. inferior, of 3 obtuse, spreading, permanent leaves, more 

 or less combined at the bottom. Pet. 3, ovate, larger 

 than the calyx, but similar in hue, though thinner in tex- 

 ture, and more veiny, subsequently enlarged, converging 

 round the seed, and permanent, bearing, in some species, 

 a dorsal grain or tubercle. Filam. capillary, very short. 

 Aiith. erect, oblong, of 2 lobes. Germ, superior, trian- 

 gular, rather turbinate ; sometimes in a separate flower. 

 Styles capillary, spreading, protruding between the petals. 

 Stigm. large, in many fine tufted segments. Peric. none, 

 except the enlarged, closed petals. Seed 1, triangular, 

 polished, with 3 sharp edges ; embryo oblong, at one side 

 of the albumen. 



Perennial, smooth, more or less astringent, or acid, herbs, 

 rarely shrubby. Leaves oblong, wavy, seldom divided, 

 mostly alternate and stalked. Fl. numerous, green, form- 

 ing whorled terminal clusters ; in some species monoe- 

 cious, dioecious, or polygamous. Each partial Jloisoer- 

 stalk has a joint near the base. 



* Flowers all perfect. 



1. ^.sanguineus. Bloody- veined Dock. j3. Green- 

 veined Dock. 



Permanent petals entire, oblong, one of them at least tu- 

 berculated. Leaves lanceolate ; somewhat heart-shaped. 



R. sanguineus. Linn. Sp. PI. 476. Willd. v. 2. 250. Fl. Br. 390- 

 Engl. Bot. V. 22. t. 1533. Hook. Scot. 112. Ehrh. PL Of. 153. 

 Winch Guide v. 1.34. 



Lapathum folio acuto rubente. Bauh.Pin. 115. Rail Syn. 142. 

 Moris. V. 2. 579. 



L. sanguineum. Hunt. Brit. t. 1 13. Bauh. Hist. v. 2. 988./. 989. 



L. sativum sanguineum. Gcr. Em. 390./. 



L. rubens. Dod. Pempt. 650. f. Camer. Epit.220. f. 



Blood-veined Dock. Pet. H. Brit. t. 2.f. 5. 



/3. viridis. Sibth. 118. Fl. Br. 390. 



