RUMEX 
136 
Although there is no doubt that Linnaeus included R. hydrolapathutn in his R. aquaticus, as his synonyms prove, and 
although Miller and Smith (olim) retained the latter name for the British plant, yet the diagnosis given by Linnaeus is not 
applicable to this species. 
There was little justification for Hooker and Babington applying the name R. aquaticus to R. longifolius ( =R . domesticus ) 
(see below): the latter species is more closely related to R. crispus than either to R. aquaticus or to R. hydrolapathum . 
R. hydrolapathum occurs on the borders of rivers, ponds, and ditches, and occasionally in reed- 
swamps ; widespread, though rather local, in the lowlands of England, Wales and Ireland; rather 
rare in southern and eastern Scotland, reaching as far north as Elginshire ; usually absent from 
hilly and mountainous districts. 
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, central Europe (ascending to about 355 m.), 
Spain, Italy, northern Balkan peninsula, central and southern Russia. 
Series iii. Crispi 
Crispi nobis. 
For characters, see page 133. 
British species and chief hybrids of Crispi 
6. R. longifolius (see below). The largest and stoutest member of this series. Laminae less 
markedly undulate than in R. crispus var. typicus. Fruiting segments large (5x6 mm.), with quite 
small tubercles. 
R. crispus x longifolius (p. 137)- Laminae less markedly undulate than in R. crispus var. typicus. 
Fruiting segmetits with tubercles larger than in R. longifolius. 
R. longifolius x obtusifolius (p. 137)- Inflorescence larger than in R. longifolius. Fruiting segments 
larger and broader than in R. obtusifolius , with at least 1 distinct tubercle. 
7. R. crispus (p. 138). Laminae at least of the upper leaves markedly undulate. Fruiting 
segments suborbicular, about 4x5 mm., 1 — 3 tubercled. 
8. # R. elongatus (p. 139). Laminae all flat, attenuate at the base. Fruiting segments 
elongate, 1 -tubercled. 
6. RUMEX LONGIFOLIUS. Plate 143 
Rumex longifolius DC. FI. France Suppl. v [on vi], 368 (1815); Rouy FI. France xii, 71 (1910); 
R. aquaticus var. crispatus Wahlenberg FI. Lapp. 91 (1812); R. domesticus Hartman Ft. Scand. 148 (1820) excl. 
var. / 3 ; Syme Eng. Bot. viii, 50 (1868); Murbeck in Bot. Notiser 13 (1899); Ascherson und Graebner Syn. iv, 
725 (1912); R. aquaticus Hooker in Eng. Bot. Suppl. no. 2698 (1831) excl. syn. L., Reichenbach, et syn. Sv. 
Bot. ; Babington Man. 255 (1843); non L. 
leones: — Hooker in Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2698, as R. aquaticus ; FI. Dan. t. 2349, as R. domesticus ; t. 2350, 
as R. domesticus var.; Reichenbach Iconogr. Crit. t. 345, fig. 526 as R. domesticus ; Beck in Reichenbach Icon. 
xxiv, t. 161, as R. domesticus. 
Camb. Brit. FI. ii. Plate 14.3. (a) Shoot with ripening fruits. (b) Lower leaf. (c) The three persistent 
perianth-segments of a single fruit (enlarged). North Riding of Yorkshire (C. E. S.). 
Exsiccata : — Fries, vii, 55, as R. domesticus ; Herb. FI. Ingric. vi, 530, as R. domesticus-, viii, 531 b, as 
R. domesticus var. elongata ; herb. Lindley in Herb. Univ. Cantab. 
Perennial. Rhizome stout. Aerial stem tall (up to nearly 2 m.), robust, branched, branches 
ascending. Ochreae of stem-leaves large, lacerate. Petioles very long, margins prominent. Laminae 
of the ground-leaves large, rounded and scarcely cordate at the base, undulating but much less so 
than in R. crispus var. typicus , crenulate, subacute ; of the stem-leaves, almost lanceolate, truncate 
at the base, subacute ; of the inflorescence, oblong-lanceolate. Lnflorescence leafy at the base only ; 
branches suberect ; whorls usually more or less crowded, many-flowered. Pedicels rather longer 
than the fruiting segments, jointed a little below the middle. Flowers in July and August. Anthers 
rather small, oblong. Fruiting segments subentire, about 5 mm. long and 6 broad, cordate at the 
base, not very strongly reticulate; tubercles quite small. Achenes about 3mm. long, and 1*5 broad, 
ovate, brown. 
