430 POLYGOXACE^. IRamex. 



are very acute, undulate, with deflexed margins, and curved upwards or spread- 

 ing, and, like the leaves, beset along the midrib and lateral veins uuderneath with 

 cartilaginous wart-like granulations. Whorls numerous, rather few-flowered, dis- 

 tant or interrupted, leafy. Flowers green, on thickish nodding or decurved pedii 

 eels, which are shorter than the perianth, and have a swollen articulation in the 

 middle of their length. Three outer perianlh-segments (calyx) narrow-oblong, 

 concave, obtuse, clasping the inner segments with their incurved tips, their mar- 

 gins whitish and membranaceous ; three inner segments at first not greatly exceed- 

 ing the outer, at length enlarged to several times their length, triangular, oblong 

 or tongue-shaped, more or less obtuse or somewhat acute, strongly reticulated with 

 prominent veins, pectinate -dentate, the upper one especially, with several long, 

 acute, spreading teeth on each side, that are mostly directed upwards, the point 

 of the valves entire, sometimes all three, but the uppermost valve principally, 

 bearing a large, reddish, cartila};inous tubercle, of a triangular-oblong form, 

 attenuated in front into the prominent midrib ; often wholly or partially absent 

 from the two inferior valves, that are often less toothed than the remaining one. 

 Stamens as long as the petals; anthers pale yellow, linear-elliptical. Germen 

 green. Nuts firmly enclosed by the very hard, rigid and persistent, ru.st-culoured 

 perianth; about a line in length, broadly ovale, trigonous, with strongly keeled 

 angles and flat or somewhat concave faces, chestnut-brown, smooth, shining, 

 greatly resembling in shape and colour miniature chestnuts. 



It is puzzling lo account for the epithet pulcher, bestowed upon this species, 

 than which a more homely and unattractive weed could hardly have been pointed 

 out as less deserving of the attribute of beautiful. 



I observed the Fiddle Dock growing abundantly at Charleston, South Caro- 

 lina, chiefly in the areas of the churches in the city, where, Elliott says, it is 

 exotic. I have also remarked it at New Orleans, and other parts of the southern 

 and western United States. 



5. E. ohhisifolius, L. Broad-leaved Dock. " Enlarged sepals 

 ovate or oblong-triangular obtuse tootbed at tbe base one prin- 

 cipally bearing a tubercle, root-leaves ovato-cordate obtuse, upper 

 ones oblong or lanceolate, stem roughisb." — Br. Fl. p. 359. E. 

 B.t. 1999. 



Very common by roadsides and in waste ground. Fl. July September. If. 



G. I7. pratensis, M. & K. Meadow Dock. " Enlarged sepals 

 unequal cordate dUated toothed at tbe base with a small entire 

 triangular point one principally tuberculated, leaves oblong-lan- 

 ceolate waved, clusters nearly leafless, whorls distinct." — Br. Fl. 

 p. 858. Borr. in E. B. S. t. 2757. 



In moist pastures. Fl. June, July. Zf . 



E. Med.— On the Dover, Ryde, Wm. Borrer, Esq., 184,3 !! 



W. Med. — Near Newtown, 1842 (in company with Mr. Borrer). In the Cype- 

 rus meadow at Apes down, Wm. Borrer, Esq., 1844. 



7. E. crispus, L. Curled Dock. " Enlarged sepals broadly 

 cordate entire or crenulate reticulated one only with a perfect large 

 coloured tubercle, leaves lanceolate waved acute, upper whorls 

 leafless."— 5r. Fl. p. 358. E. B. t. 1998. 



In pastures, waste places and by waysides ; very frequent. Fl. June— August 



n- 



R. maritimus vel R. palustris.—" One or both of these species grow very finely by 

 the roadside in or by Shorwell village. Rev. G. E. Smith.'' I cannot find either of 

 these species at Shorwell, though a place abounding in localities well suited to 

 produce two plants equally likely lo occur; nor is Mr. Smith now by any means 



