1890.] History of Garden Vegetables. 723 
franca seu romana. It is more acid than the preceding species, 
and has displaced it largely from English culture. It is men- 
tioned by many of the early botanists, and is under extensive 
culture in continental Europe.” It was in American gardens in 
1806,” but is now scarcely cultivated, as would seem from its 
absence from our seed lists. 
French sorrel® round-leaved sorrel? buckler-shaped sorrel” or 
Roman sorrel” is called in France, oseille ronde, petite oseille ; in 
Germany, romischer sauerampfer; in Italy, acetosa romana, 
acetosa tonda” 
Rumex montanus Desf. 
This species occurs in French gardens under two varieties, the 
green-leaved and the crimped-leaved. The wild form, R. art- 
folius L., is often met with in France. In 1863 Burr^ describes it 
among American garden esculents. In India it is said by 
Firminger “ to be an excellent ingredient to use abundantly in 
soups, and to serve to impart a peculiarly fine flavor to omelettes. 
Mountain sorrel or maiden sorrel? is called in France, 
oseille vierge, oseille sterile ; in Italy, acetosa vergine." 
Rumex alpinus L. 
A species sometimes grown in France, but which does not 
appear to have entered American culture. It was grown in 
England by Gerarde in 1597 for use in ^ physicke," and is de- 
scribed as cultivated there in Miller's Dictionary, 1807. It is 
eaten as a herb in China." 
Pyrenean sorrel® is called in France, oseille des Alpes, oseille 
des Pyrnees. à 
Rumex pulcher L. 
This species is said to be planted in gardens in France for use 
as a pot-herb, but the leaves to become very hard in summer.* 
It is, however, scarcely to be considered a garden plant. 
37 McIntosh. Book of the Gard., II., 139. 
38 Vilmorin. The Veg. Gard., 526. 
3 Mawe. Gard., 1778. 
“Burr. Field and Gard. Veg., 308. 
4l Firminger. Gard. in Ind., 142. 
" Smith. Mat. Med. of China, 87. 
# Flore Nat. et Econ., etc., Pt. IL, p. 497. 
