4. R. maritimus (Golden Dock).—A slightly downy, yellow-
green plant, 1—2 feet high, with ascending branches ; leaves short-
stalked, linear-lanceolate, narrowed at both ends, slightly wavy ;
flowers in crowded, confluent, many-flowered whorls, ina leafy
panicle with spreading branches; tuner perianth-segments  tri-
angular, acuminate, orange-yellow, with 2 bristly teeth, often
longer than the segment, on each side, and each with a prominent,
narrow, oblong wart——Marshes, principally near the sea; rare—~
Fl. July, August. Biennial.
5. R. limosus (Yellow Marsh Dock).—A closely allied species,
with the whorls distinct, looser, and fewer-flowered ; the zuner
perianth-segments ovate-oblong, with shorter, bristly teeth ; and the
nut much larger.—Marshes ; less common than R. maritimus.—
Fl. July—September. Perennial.
6. R. pulcher (Fiddle Dock).—A_ small, nearly smooth,
straggling, branched plant ; lower leaves fiddle-shaped or oblong,
with a heart-shaped base and narrowed above, with slender
petioles; upper leaves lanceolate, acute; flowers in distant
whorls forming a spreading, leafy panicle ; tuner perianth-segments
pale-coloured, oblong, deeply toothed along the lower halves of
their edges, with a network of veins, and on one of them a more
prominent, oblong, prickly wart.—Waste places on dry soil; not
uncommon.—F!]. June—October. Biennial or perennial.
422 POLYGONACE
7. R. obtusifolius (Broad-leaved Dock).—A tall, stout species,
2—-3 feet high, with ascending branches ; lower leaves ovate-
oblong, cordate, blunt, finely crenate, wavy, ‘with slender stalks ;
upper oblong- Janceolate ; flowers in distant whorls, leafless above :
inner perianth-segments long, triangular, blunt, with netted veins
and usually strong teeth at the base, and an ovoid red or brown
wart.— Waste places ; common.—fF'l. July—September. Perennial.
