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R U M E X obtusifolius.
Broad-leaved Dock.
HEXANDRIA Trigynia.
Gen. Char. C al. 3-leaved. Petals S , closed. Seed 1,
superior, naked, triangular. Stigmas many-cleft.
Spec. Char. Valves toothed, one principally grained.
Radical leaves heartshaped, obtuse. Stem roughish.
Syn. Rumex obtusifolius. L inn. Sp. PI. 478. Sm. FI.
B r it. 392. Huds. 155. With. 357. Hull. 78.
Relh. 142. Sibth. 118. Abbot. 81. Curt. Lond.
fa s c . 3. t. 22.
Lapathum vulgare, folio obtuso. R a il Syn. 141.
N o t less common than R. crispus figured in our last plate,
and, as Mr. Curtis remarks, even more troublesome as a
weed, on account of its much larger leaves. It flowers in
July and August, and is perennial.
Root tap-shaped, blackish, yellow within, bearing numerous
stems 2 or 3 feet high, which are upright, branched,
leafy, round, furrowed, rough chiefly in their upper part. Radical
leaves very large, heartshaped, more or less blunt, on
long stalks; stem leaves much narrower and more pointed,
on shorter stalks; all in some degree crenate and crisped,
though less than in R. crispus. Clusters with few leaves,
often without any. Valves of the fruit rather large, oblongheartshaped,
veiny, entire at the upper part, but having 3
sharp prominent teeth at each side near the base. An oblong
grain is chiefly to be observed on the outermost valve, which
is smaller in proportion to the valve than in some other kinds.
Mr. Curtis recommends frequent mowing as a sure means
of destroying this weed. Farmers find their account in hiring
persons to eradicate docks, under which ntaie many tap-
rooted plants are included besides real species of Rumex.