104 HEXANDRIA TRIGYNIA. Triglochin. 



Per. August. 



Largest of our docks. Root large, knobby. Stem four to five f. 



Ls. lower ones heart-shaped at the base, to eighteen inches in 



length. 



Discrim. Size of the Is., foot and a half long, or more. 



Root very ashingent. Good anti-scorbutic. Powdered root art 

 excellent dentifrice. Wash in decoction for spongy gums. 

 ** Flowers dioecious. 



R. Acetosa. Common Sorrel. Flowers dioecious. Leaves 

 oblong, arrow-shaped, with segments approaching the 

 foot-stalks. Permanent petals tuberculated, (grain- 

 bearing.) E. B. 127. Oxalis sive Acetosa. G. E. 

 396. 



Meadoivs, pastures. 

 Per. June. 



Stem mostly simple, erect, slender, striated, one to two f. Ls. 

 somewhat succulent, root, and lower stem-ones, long stalked. 

 Stij). slender, cylindric, sheathing, torn at top : upper Is. stalk- 

 less, gradually more entire. Fl. reddish, in a sort of compound, 

 whorled spike, branches alternate, almost erect. 

 Plant acid, astringent, anti-scorbutic : in salads. The boiled 

 juice to turn milk acid : an agreeable food to Laplanders, keeping 

 a considerable time : cultivated for the table in France. Eaten 

 with fish, in Ireland. Dried root boiled gives a fine red colour. 

 What has been named Salt of Lemons may be prepared from this 

 plant; the mucilaginous parts, separated by water mixed with 

 pipe-clay, and the rest crystallized. 



R. AcetSseUa. Sheep's Sorrel. Flowers dioecious. 

 Leaves spear-shaped, halbert-shaped. Permanent pe- 

 tals without grains. E. B. I674. C. 5. 29. Oxahs 

 tenuifolia. G. E. 39?. 



Dry, gravelly pastures, fields. 



Per. June. 



About half the size of R. Acetosa, with stem more slender. Herb 



acid, somewhat astringent. Fl. reddish. Spikes long, whorled. 



Fl.-stalks drooping, hair-like. Ls. nan'ow^, lobes at the base 



point upwards, or horizontally, as it were hooked ; in R. acetosa 



backrwards. Ls. variable in shape. 



Conspicuous from its bright red leaves, at the decline of the 

 year. 



TRIGLOCHIN.' Arrow-grass. 



T. palustre. Marsh A. Capsule nearly linear, of three 

 cells ; tapering at the base. Root fibrous. E. B. 



' From tris, Gr. three, and glochin, Gr. the point of a dart ; from the cap- 

 sules bursting in three points. 



