330 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



for a sort of spear, the shape of which the leaves of the species are 

 said to resemble. 



1. R. con glomerulus, (Murr.) sharp Dock. Engl. Boi. I. 724. 

 R. acutus, Smith. R. glomeratus, Reich. Icones, f. 552. 



Locality. By the sides of ditches and ponds, and in wet meadows 

 by roadsides, and in waste places. P. Fl. June, August. Area, 1. 

 2. 3. 4. 5. Distributed throughout all the Districts. Enlarged petals 

 narrow, oblong reticulated obscurely toothed, each bearing a tuber- 

 cle ; unopened anthers white. Whorls distinct leafy. Leaves 

 oblong, acute cordate at the base, minutely crisped and wavy at 

 the edges. Plant dull and rather pale green, the stem and veins 

 of the leaves often tinged with red in Autumn, when it is some- 

 times mistaken for the next species. 



2. R. sanguineus, (Linn.) bloody veined Dock. Engl. Bot. t. 

 1533. 



Locality. Shady pastures, woods, and roadsides. P. Fl. June, 

 August, Area, 1. 2. 3.4.5. Sparingly distributed in Wilts. En- 

 larged petals small, linear, oblong, quite entire, reticulated, one 

 only bearing a tubercle. Whorls distinct in elongated leafless 

 branches. Leaves ovate lanceolate, acuminate, subcordate at the 

 base. Yeins of the leaves bright red. /3. R. viridis, (Sibth.) veins 

 of the leaves green. Unopened anthers pale yellow. R. nemorosus 

 Schrad. This appears to be the more common form in the county. 



3. R. pulcher, (Linn.) fair, or fiddle Dock. The vulgar name 

 fiddle refers to the leaves, which are more or less contracted below 

 the middle, so as to resemble the body of a guitar or violin. Engl. 

 Bot. t. 1576. 



Locality. By roadsides, and in waste places, particularly in sandy 

 and chalky soils. P. Fl. August, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In 

 all the Districts but sparingly distributed. Enlarged sepals, triangular, 

 ovate, reticulate, with prominent veins deeply toothed, one of them 

 principally bearing a tubercle ; lower leaves panduriform or cordate 

 oblong, obtuse ; upper ones lanceolate, acute ; stem spreading. 



4. R. obtusif alius, (Linn ?) obtuse or broad-leaved Dock. Engl. 

 Bot. t. 1999. R. Friesii (Grenier). R. divaricatus (Fries). 



Locality. By roadsides and on waste ground, cultivated fields 



