486 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
The leaves have long, (lender footftalks , and 
they arc narrow, and of the fliape of a fpear- 
head ; bearded at each fide, near the bafe. 
The flowers are fniall and ycllowdh. 
It is common on dry banks, flowering in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Acetofa a'venfii lanceolatli. 
Authors have, from the varieties of its growth, 
idly divided into two fpecies ; as they have de- 
fcribed alfo under the name of a diftinft fpecies, 
the cammon fcrrel, when of a more than ordinary 
ftature. 
3. Round leaved Sorrel. 
Lapathim acetofum rotundifolium. 
The root is fibrous and creeping. 
The firft leaves have long footrtalks, of a pur- 
plifli tinge ; and they are rounded in their gene- 
ral lhape, butauriculated at the bafe. 
The flialk is a foot high, flender, and of a pale 
greyilli green ■, as are alfo the leaves. 
The flowers are fmall and brownilh. 
It is common in our northern counties ; and, 
being cultivated in the rich mould of a garden^ 
becomes the plant called Roman forrely or round- 
leaved garden-forrel. 
Ray calls it Acttofa rolHndifolia repens. Others, 
Acetofa Rom^ina. 
GENUS xiir. 
BUCKWHEAT. 
l^ACOPTRUM. 
rpHE flower confifts of eight filament! contained, together with three (lyles, and a ne 
eitrht granules, in a cup: this is formed of a fingle piece, divided into fegments ; which 
1 neftarium of 
up : this IS tormed 01 a iingie piece, divided into fegments i which being thin 
and coloured, appear as petals, but remain with the feed, which is large, fingle, and ihree-cornercd. 
LinniEus places this among the oaandria trigynia. 
\. Buckwheat. 
Fagopyrum vulgare. 
The root is fibrous. 
The ftalks are light, hollow, upright, yel- 
lowirt), and a yard high. 
The leaves ftand fingly at diftances ; they fur- 
round the ftalk at the bafe, and have there two 
ears, and terminate in a point. 
Their colour is a faint, yellowiOi green. 
The flowers are white, with a dafh of purple j 
and they ftand in tufts at the top of the ftalk. 
The feeds are brown. 
It is found by road-fides in fome places, but 
probably owing to fcattered feeds, the plant be- 
ing cultivated for the food of cattle. 
C. Bauhine calls it Eryfimm Theophrajii folio 
hedsraceo. Others, Fagopyrum ere£ium vulgare. 
3. Climbing Buckwheat, called Black Bind- 
weed. 
Fagopyrum fcandens. 
The root is fibrous. 
The ftalk is weak, yellowifh, and a foot m 
length, climbing round other plants for fup- 
porc. 
The leaves are of a triangular form, and heart- 
fhaped at the bafe. 
The flowers grow in long feries, and are of a 
dufky brown. 
It is common in corn-fields, and Rowers in 
June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Convolvulus minor folio triaii. 
gulo. Others, Convolvulus m^er, and Ftigojyrum 
fcmideris. 
Q 
N U S 
A R S M A R T. 
XIV. 
PERSICARIA. 
THE flower confifts of eight filaments, and three flyles, inclofed in a thick, flefliy cup, green on 
the outfide, coloured white or red within, and flelhy on the hinder part. This is formed of a 
finf le piece, imperforate at the bafe, and divided at the edge into five oval fegments. The feed is 
fingle, and triangular; and it remains covered by the cup. 
Linnsus joins this genus, with the folygmiim, among the oSlandria triiynia. 
I. Biting Arfmart. 
Perficaria vulgaris acris. 
The root is fibrous. 
The flalk is round, thick, jointed, irregu- 
larly upright, and a foot and half high. 
The leaves are oblong, moderately broad, un- 
divided at the edges, and of a beautiful uniform 
green all over. ° 
The flowers are coUeacd in fliort fpikes at the 
tops of the ftalks and branches ; and they are ot 
a bright red. 
The taftc of the whole plant is very acrid. 
It is common in damp places, and flowers in 
June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Perficaria urens five li^dro- 
piper. Our people, Lakeweedy and Biting 
arfyiiart. 
2. Small creeping Arfmart. • 
Perficaria pufilla repens. 
The root is fibrous. 
Ihe 
