402 Rumex Crispus — Yellow Dock. 
EXAMINATION OF THE RUMEX CRISPUS— YELLOW DOCK. 
By J.H. Salisbury, ^m^ian^ in the Labor atory of Prof. Emmons. 
General remarks. — This species belongs to an extensive family 
of plants, familiarly known as sorrel and dock, inhabiting Europe, 
the temperate parts of Africa, and the United States. Several 
plants of this genus have acid leaves, owing to the presence 
mainly of oxalic acid. Those as a general rule which have 
the most of this acid, are distinguished by the common name of 
sorrel; some of which are highly esteemed in many places as 
culinary vegetables. They are cooling, and somewhat diuretic, 
and are not considered injurious unless too freely and frequently 
eaten. A small portion of oxalic acid is likewise found in many 
of those known by the common name of dock; but in these it is 
principally in the petioles and stalks, instead of the leaves. Tan- 
nic acid is found in the roots and seeds of many of the species, 
and it is to this acid that they owe their astringency. 
The Rumex crispus, which is the subject of this essay, is con- 
sidered by most authorities as a native of Europe, having been 
introduced into the United States. Griffith, however, in his 
medical botany, says it is a native of this country. It is very 
common, inhabiting not only waste places, but often to the great 
annoyance of the farmer, taking possession of, and literally over- 
running his richest fields. When it has once thoroughly obtained 
a foothold, it is not easy to eradicate it. It is very tenacious of 
life, and will often take root and grow after having been exposed 
for several days to the direct rays of the sun. 
Description and composition. — The flowers are numerous in a 
large panicle of axillary racemes, made up of half whorls, spirally 
arranged. Calyx, 6 parted, the 3 outside sepels are connected at 
their base, short, rugose, filiform, alternating with the 3 inside 
ones which envelope the seed, and which are much larger than 
the outer ones, and irregularly denticulated on their margins. One 
of these has a large tubercle on its back, filled with a starchy 
astringent substance, like the seed; the others have an imperfect 
tubercle. The seeds are astringent like the root, but less bitter, 
containing considerable tannic acid. 
100 grs. of the seeds pedicels and calyces, taken when the seeds 
were in their milk, gave of 
Water, - - 77-06 
Dry matter, - - 22-94 
Ash, -76 
Organic matter, ------ 22-18 
Ash calculated diy, ----- 3.313 
Organic matter calculated dry, - . - 96-687 
