Flora Medica

742. R. crassinervium Fischer. Native country not knownto me.Leaves heart-shaped, acuminate, obtuse, wavy, excessively bullate,deep green, quite smooth on both sides, rather glossy on the upperside, scabrous at the edge ;the ribs slightly coloured red, and thecentral ones above ^ an inch deep at the base ;sinus open, cuneate,with the lobes of the leaf inflected. Petiole dull red, rounded, ratherangular, with a narrow flattened upper side, the edges of which areraised, and which is narrower at the point than at the base. This isundoubtedly quite distinct from any other species, but has not yetflowered ;the form of the petiole approaches that of R. Emodi, butthe leaf is quite different. It was sent by Dr. Fischer from the ImperialGarden at St. Petersburgh with this name, and is now growing inthe Apothecaries' Garden at Chelsea. Mr. William Anderson, thegardener there, states that the roots, when 3 years old, being accidentallyuncovered, were found as thick as the wrist, and brittle ;and when examined at Apothecaries' Hall were found to possess thepeculiar colour and odour of the best Turkey Rhubarb.R.hybridum Murray, and R. Ribes Gronov., are not medicinal species.RUMEX.Calyx of 3, obtuse, spreading, permanent external leaves, moreor less combined at tbe bottom, and of 3, ovate, larger internalones, similar in colour, though thinner in texture, and moreveiny subsequently enlarged, converging round the ; fruit, andpermanent, bearing, in some species, a dorsal grain or tubercle.Filaments capillary, very short. Anthers erect, oblong, of 2lobes. Ovary triangular, rather turbinate ; sometimes in a separateflower. Styles capillary, spreading, protruding between thepetals. Stigmas large, in many fine tufted segments. Nut enclosedwithin the interior, enlarged, closed sepals, triangular,polished, with 3 sharp edges. Embryo oblong, on one side of thealbumen.743. R. crispusZmw. sp. pi. 476. Eng. Sot. t. 1998. Fl.Land. t. 20. Eng. Fl. ii. 191. A common weed all over Europe.(Dock.)Root tapering, yellowish. Stem 2 or 3 feet high, angular, furrowed,somewhat zigzag, smooth to the touch, panicled, leafy. Leaves lanceolate,acute, strongly undulated and crisped at the edges, smooth, ofa lightish green ; the radical ones on long stalks the ; uppermostnarrower, and nearly sessile. Clusters of numerous, rather crowded,tufts, or whorls, of drooping pale green flowers ;in the lower part leafy.Inner sepals always much larger than the outer, veiny, waved, eachbearing a large, ovate, brown tubercle. Nut contracted at each end,with 3 blunt or tumid angles. Smith. This common weed has thereputation of being, in decoction or ointment, a cure for the itch ; theroot which is astringent, is the part used.744. R. obtusifolius Linn. sp. pi 478. Eng. Bot. t. 1999.359 A A 4