BEARBINE, CLIMBING BUCKWHEAT 6oi 



female separate. The lower leaves are more triangular than 

 those of C. album, and the seeds are generally rough. 



P0LYG0NACE5;.— The Curled Dock {Rumex crispus L.) and 

 another species (^Rumex obtusifolins L.) occur on arable land 

 introduced often as impurities in the clover and grass seeds 

 used for leys. Although they flower and seed readily enough if 

 allowed to do so, they are not spread by the wind, as their fruits 

 do not possess any special hairy or downy appendages for this 

 purpose, such as is met with among thistles and groundsel. 

 The brown shining fruits are triangular (2, Fig. 199), resembling 

 those of buckwheat, and contain one seed. 



These weeds, are perennial, with a strongly developed fleshy 

 tap root, on the top of which is the bud from which arises the 

 stem with its flowers. They are among the few plants whose 

 roots have the power of producing adventitious buds. When cut 

 up each piece of dock- root is capable of sending forth a shoot, 

 and thus behaves like a rhizome. Cutting belpw the hypocotyl, 

 which is sufficient to destroy most biennial and perennial plants, 

 is consequently of no avail with the docks. The latter must be 

 pulled up and removed completely, or the roots ploughed up and 

 the pieces carefully collected and taken off the land. 



They should be prevented from seeding, and every precaution 

 taken to secure pure seeds of the clovers and grasses sown on the 

 farm, as these frequently contain dock seeds. 



Black Bindweed, Bearbine, Climbing Buckwheat {Polygonum 

 Convolvulus L.). — An annual with a fibrous root and angular 

 twining stems : it is often confused with the more objectionable 

 small Bindweed (p. 595), which it resembles in general habit 

 of growth and shape of its leaves. Where the latter join the 

 stem there are tubular membranous stipules which serve to dis- 

 tinguish the two plants. The flowers are very small and greenish, 

 in clusters of four or five together, and quite unlike those of 

 small Bindweed. The triangular fruits are dark brown or black, 

 each containing a single seed. 



