154 



POLYGONACEiE. 



Polygonum. 



above, smooth. Leaves 6-10 lines long and scarcely a line wide, obtuse, smooth, deciduous 

 or the lower ones often wanting. Ochrea? cylindrical, obliquely truncate. Spikes (or rather 

 racemes) erect, numerous, 1-2 inches long ; the rachis consisting of many joints, from each 

 of the bracts of which arises a slender filiform recurved pedicel. Calyx bright rose-color, 

 open ; the two outer sepals rather broader than the others, and often emarginate. Stamens 

 shorter than the calyx : 5 of the filaments subulate ; the 3 others with a broad membranaceous 

 base. Ovary ovate-triquetrous, very acute : styles or stigmas three. Nut chestnut-brown, 

 triquetrous, acute, polished. 



Sandy woods and fields. Sandy plains west of Albany ; shore of Oneida lake (Dr. Gray 

 and Dr. Knieskern) ; also on Long Island. August - September. 



2. RUMEX. Linn.; Endl. gen. 1993. DOCK. 



[ Etymology unknown.] 



Calyx of 6 sepals, which are somewhat united at the base ; the three exterior herbaceous, 

 smaller ; the three interior somewhat colored, larger, naked or with a grain-like tubercle 

 on the outer surface, closing in a valvate manner over the fruit. Stamens 6, inserted in 

 pairs opposite the exterior sepals. Ovary triquetrous : styles 3 : stigmas pencillate. 

 Achenium triquetrous. Embryo slightly curved at one of the sides or angles of the 

 farinaceous albumen, or in the axis : cotyledons narrow, incumbent. — Herbs or rarely 

 suffrutescent plants, often more or less acid, with alternate leaves, and small flowers in 

 verticillate fascicles or racemose panicles : pedicels jointed near the base. 



* Lapathum, Campt. Flowers perfect or polygamous ; the three inner sepals or valves bearing tubercles. 



1. Rumex crispus, Linn. Cm-led Dock. 



Leaves lanceolate, acute, curled on the margin ; upper whorls of flowers leafless ; inner 

 sepals broadly cordate, entire or crenulate, prominently reticulated , one of them with a large 

 tubercle , the others with an imperfect tubercle. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 335 ; Engl. hot. t. 1998 ; 

 Pursh, fl. 1. p. 247 ; Ell. sit. 1. p. 414 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 142 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 378 ; 

 Beck, hot. p. 303 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 236. 



Root perennial, large, fusiform, yellow. Stem 2-3 feet high, sulcate, smooth, paniculately 

 branched above. Radical leaves in a tuft, about one foot long and 1-2 inches or more wide ; 

 those of the stem much smaller. Flowers in numerous fasciculate whorls, of which the upper 

 ones are naked, the lower leafy : pedicels filiform, 3-4 lines long. Calyx green : in fruit, 

 the inner sepals are large, broadly cordate, usually denticulate towards the base ; one of them 

 (and sometimes more) with a large orange oblong tubercle on the back ; the others with the 

 midrib swollen, but not usually tubercled. Achenium acuminate, brown and shining. Embryo 

 applied to the side of the albumen. 



Pastures, meadows, and about houses ; very common, and a troublesome weed. Introduced 

 from Europe. May - July. The root of this species is a popular application for unhealthy 

 ulcers. 



