722 The American Naturalist. [August, 
number of species have been brought under culture, but the 
varieties referred to Rumex acetosa, R. montanus, and R. scutatus 
are now the only ones described by Vilmorin as under European 
vegetables. 
Rumex acetosa L. 
This species is very extensively used in France, and has four 
varieties.” It was formerly much cultivated in England for its 
leaves, which were used as spinach or in salads, and are agreeably 
acid. It is mentioned in nearly all the earlier botanies, and by 
Gerarde” in 1597, as under culture in England, who also figures 
the blistered variety. It is spoken of in nearly all the later wri- 
ters on garden subjects, and was in common use in 1807, but in 
1874 is said to have been for many years entirely discarded, the 
French Sorrel having usurped its place? The broad-leaved form 
was in American gardens in 1806.%. This plant is in great 
favor with the northern natives, as the Laplanders,” the Hebride- 
ans,” etc., and in its varieties is largely cultivated. 
The common sorrel, sorrel, or green sauce? is called in France, 
oseille commune, aigrette, oseille longue, surelle, surette, vinette ; 
in Germany, Sauerampfer, Sauerling ; in Flanders and Holland, 
zuring ; in Denmark, almindelig syre; in Italy, acetosa, acetina, 
erba perpetua ; in Spain, acedera, agrella ; in Portugal, azedas ;* 
in Greece, zunethra, zinitra, oxalithi ;** in the Mauritius, oseille ; 9 
in India, oov/aeeta choo£a * 
Rumex scutatus L. 
This species is mentioned in England by Gerarde™ in 1597, 
but he does not indicate its general cultivation; he calls it oxalis 
28 Vilmorin. Les Pl: Pot., 393. j 
7! Gerarde. Herbal., 1597, 319. 
31 Lightfoot. Fl. Scot., I., 191. 
9% Jour. of Agr., Il., 379. 
33 Johnson, Useful PL, 222. 
* Pickering. Ch. Hist., 365. 
% Bojer. Hort. Maur., 272. 
"Speede. Ind. Handb, of Gard., 154. 
® McMahon. Am. Gard Kal : 1806, 320. 
