14. Rumex Sanguineus L. Bloody Or Red-Veined Dock. Bloodvvort

Fig. 1610

Rumex sanguineus L. Sp. PI. 334. 1753.

Perennial, glabrous, stem slender, erect, grooved, simple or branched, 1°-3° high. Leaves oblong, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, 1'-6' long, the lower long-petioled, cordate at the base, acute or obtuse at the apex, usually red-veined, the upper short-petioled; panicle loose; racemes slender, spreading, not leafy, interrupted; flowers loosely whorled; calyx very small; pedicels slender, 1-1 1/2 times as long as the calyx-wings, jointed at the base; wings oblong, 1 1/2" long, one of them bearing a spherical-oblong callosity; achene less than 1" long, sharp-pointed, dark red, smooth, shining, its faces convex.

In waste places and ballast, Massachusetts to southern New York, Virginia and Louisiana. Naturalized or adventive from Europe. Olcott-root. May-Aug.

15. Rumex Pulcher L. Fiddle Dock

Fig. 1611

Rumex pulcher L. Sp. PI. 336. 1753.

Perennial, dark green; stem slender, erect or procumbent, grooved, diffusely branched, 1°-3° long, the branches spreading. Leaves oblong, or some of the lower fiddle-shaped, 1'-6' long, long-petioled, obtuse at the apex, cordate at the base; upper oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 1' 3' long, short-petioled, usually narrowed at both ends; petioles more or less pubescent; panicle loose; racemes long, divergent, sometimes re-flexed, much interrupted, rather leafy; flowers few in the whorls; calyx very small, green; pedicels equalling the calyx-wings, jointed at or below the middle; wings ovate or oblong-ovate, 2" long, truncate at the base, one larger than the others or all three of different sizes, fringed with spine-like teeth, usually two, sometimes one or all three bearing tubercles; achene 1" long, pointed, reddish, smooth, shining.

In waste places, Virginia to Florida and Louisiana. Also on the Pacific Coast and in ballast about the northern seaports. Naturalized from Europe. June-Sept.

16. Rumex Obtusifolius L. Broad-Leaved Or Bitter Dock

Fig. 1612

Rumex obtusifolius L. Sp. PI. 335. 1753.

Perennial, glabrous, dark green; stem stout, erect, simple or sparingly branched, grooved, more or less scurfy above, 2°-4° tall. Lower leaves oblong-lanceolate, 6'-14' long, long-petioled, all cordate or rounded at the base, obtuse or acute at the apex, the upper lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 2'-6' long, short-petioled, the margins somewhat undulate or crisped; panicle rather open; racemes nearly erect, continuous or interrupted below; flowers loosely whorled; pedicels slender, somewhat longer than the calyx-wings, jointed below the middle; wings hastate, 2"-21/2" long, fringed with a few spreading spiny teeth, one of them bearing an oblong tubercle; achene 1" long, pointed, dark red, smooth, shining, its angles slightly margined.

In waste places, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to British Columbia, Oregon, Florida and Texas. Also in the West Indies. Naturalized from Europe-. Native also of Asia. Blunt-leaved or butter-dock. Celery-seed. June-Aug. .