140 
RUMEX 
it was recorded where both R. crispus and R. elongatus occur, is quite probable ; and the hybrid should 
be again looked for, and, if found, properly described.] 
Series iv. Obtusifolii 
Obtusifolii nobis. 
For characters, see page 133. Only British species: — R. obtusifolius. 
Species and chief hybrid of Obtusifolii 
9. R. obtusifolius (see below). Laminae of the ground-leaves broad, flat. Fruiting segments 
dentate, often coarsely and irregularly dentate ; tubercules usually 3, variable in size. 
R. crispus x obtusifolius (p. 141). Laminae less undulate than in R. crispus var. typicus , but more 
so than in R. obtusifolius , narrower than in R. obtusifolius . Fruiting segments about 5 or 6 mm. long, ovate, 
dentate ; tubercles 3, 1 usually larger than the others. 
9. RUMEX OBTUSIFOLIUS. Broad-leaved Dock. Plate 145 
Lapathum sylvestris folio minus acutum Johnson in Gerard Herb. ed. 2, 388 (1636); L. vulgare folio obtuso 
Ray Syn. ed. 3, 14 1 (1724). 
Rumex obtusifolius L. Sp. PI. 335 (1753)!; Syme Eng. Bot. viii, 46 (1868); Rouy Ft. France xii, 77 
(1910); Ascherson und Graebner Syn. iv, 709 (1912). 
leones : — Camb. Brit. Ft. ii. Plate 14.5. (a) Fruiting branches of var. microcarpus. (b) Ground-leaf 
of var. microcarpus, (b') Portion of stem with cut branches, and stem-leaf of var. microcarpus, (c) Flowers (enlarged) 
of var. microcarpus. ( d ) The three fruiting segments (enlarged) of a single fruit of var. microcarpus. ( e , f g) 
Fruiting segments (enlarged), from three different plants, of var. macrocarpus. Huntingdonshire (E. W. H.). 
Perennial. Rhizome thick, blackish outside, yellowish inside. Stem about 1 m. high, erect, 
stout, with lines of short hairs, branched ; branches suberect. Ochreae lacerate. Petioles of the 
ground-leaves about three-quarters as long as the laminae. Laminae of the ground-leaves large, 
obtuse or truncate or cordate at the base, margin crenulate, broadly oblong and obtuse at the 
apex or subtriangular-acute, slightly hairy on the larger veins underneath, up to about 3 dm. long 
and nearly 2 broad ; of the inflorescence linear, attenuate at both ends. Inflorescence long, leafy at 
the base, branched ; branches ascending ; whorls more or less distant, many-flowered. Pedicels long, 
j’ointed below the middle. Flowers from late June to September. Anthers oblong, yellow. Fruiting 
segments triangular to ovate-oblong, margin more or less dentate ; teeth very variable in size and 
shape, spreading, often irregular ; tubercles usually 3, variable in size, often 1 ovoid and larger than 
the other 2, smaller ones often mere thickenings at the base of the midrib. Achenes ovate-acute, 
light yellowish brown, 2*5 — 3^0 mm. long and 1-5 broad. 
(a) R. obtusifolius var. macrocarpus Dierbach Syst. Uebers. 82 (1826); Crepin FI. Belg. ed. 2, 248 (1866); 
R. obtusifolius Wallroth Sched. Crit. 166 (1822) in sensu stricto; R. obtusifolius var. agrestis Fries FI. Suec. 
ed. 2, 99 (1828); Rouy FI. France xii, 77 (1910); R. divaricatus Fries Ft. Suec. Mant. iii, 25 (1842)!; R. 
wallrothi Nyman Syll. Ft. Eur. 327 (1855); R. friesi Grenier et Godron FI. Fi'ance iii, 36 (1855 — 6); R. 
obtusifolius var. friesi Doll FI. Bad. 598 (1859); Trimen in fourn. Bot. xi, 131 (1873); R. obtusifolius race 
agrestis Ascherson und Graebner Syn. iv, 710 (1912). 
leones: — Curtis FI. Lond. i, t. 61, as R. obtusifolius ; Smith Eng. Bot. t. 1999, as R. obtusifolius ; Reichen- 
bach Iconogr. Crit. fig. 5 50, t. 366, as R. obtusifolius ; Beck in Reichenbach Icon, xxiv, t. 18 1. 
Camb. Brit. FI. ii. Plate 145. (e — g). 
Exsiccata : — Fries, vii, 57, as R. divaricatus \ Herb. FI. Ingric. iv, 529, as R. obtusifolius. 
Stem stouter, ridges more hairy than in var. microcarpus. Laminae more oblong and obtuse. 
Inflorescence with branches more ascending, strongly toothed. 
(/ 3 ) Subvar. purpureus comb. nov. ; R. purpureus Poirret in Lamarck Encycl., Bot. v, 63 (1804); R. obtusi- 
folius var. discolor Wallroth Sched. Crit. 168 (1822); R. obtusifolius var. purpurascens Wahlenberg FI. Suec. i, 222 
(1824 — 6); R. obtusifolius var. purpureus Petermann FI. Lips. 266 (1838). 
Exsiccata : — One of the specimens of R. obtusifolius in Linn. herb, belongs to this form. 
Veins of a strong reddish-purple colour. 
This subvariety is not infrequently mistaken for R. sanguineus. 
