Rumex. | LXIII, POLYGONACER. 383 
the whorls more distant, and’ rather shorter points to the teeth of the 
perianth-segments, has been distinguished ag a species under the name of 
R. palustris, Sm. 
9. R. Acetosa, Linn. (fig. 864). Sorrel Dock, Sorrel.—Stems scarcely 
branched, 1 to 2 feet high, Leaves chiefly radical, oblong, 3 to 5 inches 
long, sagittate at the base with broad pointed auricles, of a bright green, 
and very acid; the stem-leaves few, on shorter stalks. Flowers diccious 
or sometimes monececious, in long, terminal, leafless panicles, usually turn- 
ingred. Inner segments of the fruiting perianth enlarged, orbicular, thin 
and almost petal-like, quite entire, without any tubercle, but each with a 
minute scale-like appendage at the base, which, as well as the small outer 
segments, is turned back on the pedicel. 
In meadows and moist pastures, in Europe, central and Russian Asia, 
in northern America, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, ascend- 
ing high into mountain ranges, and reappearing in the southern hemisphere. 
Extends all over Britain, and has long been in cultivation. FV. swmmer. 
10, R. Acetosella, Linn. (fig. 865). Sheep-sorrel Dock, Sheep-sorrel. 
—A slender plant, from 3 or 4 inches to nearly a foot high, acid like R. 
Acetosa, and often turning red. Leaves all narrow-lanceolate and linear, 
and some at least of every plant sagittate, the lobes of the base usually 
spreading and often divided, Flowers small, dicecious, in slender terminal 
panicles. Segments of the perianth small, broadly ovate or orbicular, entire, 
and thin; the inner ones closing over the nut as in the other species, but 
scarcely enlarged; the outer ones erect, not reflexed as in R. Acetosa. 
In pastures, especially in dry open places, over the greater part of the 
globe without the tropics, penetrating far into the Arctic regions, and as- 
cending high upon alpine sammits. Abundantin Britain, FV. from spring 
till autumn. | 
Il. OXYRIA. OXYRIA. 
A single species, with the habit of a small Rumew of the Acetosa group, 
Separated from that genus because the perianth has only 2 inner and 2 
outer segments of the perianth, and the ovary has only 2 stigmas. 
1, O. reniformis, Campd. (fig. 866). Kidney Oxyria.—A glabrous 
perennial, seldom above 6 inches high, of an acid flavour. Leaves chiefly 
radical, cordate-orbicular or kidney-shaped, usually less than half an inch, 
but sometimes an inch broad. Stem slender and almost leafless, terminating 
in a simple or slightly branched raceme. Flowers small, in clusters of 
2 or 3, or slender pedicels ; the inner segments of the perianth slightly 
enlarged, but shorter than the nut, Stamens 6. Nut flat, orbicular, 
about 2 lines in diameter, including a scarious wing, which surrounds it, 
and is either entire or notched at the top and at the base. 0. digyna, 
Hill. 
A high alpine plant, in all the great mountain-ranges of Europe and 
central and Russian Asia, descending to a lower level in the north, and 
extending far into the Arctic regions. Frequent in the mountains of 
Scotland, northern England, and North Wales; rare in Ireland. FY, 
summer, . 
