R U M E X maritimus..
Golden Dock.
L E X A N DR1A Trigynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. 3-leaved. Petals 3, clofed. Seed I,
ftrperior, naked, triangular. Stigmas many-cleft.
Spec. Char. Valves triangular, grained, fringed with
briftly teeth. Leaves linear. Whorls crowded.
S y n . Rumex maritimus. Linn. S]>. PI. 478. Sm. FI.
Brit. 393. Hudf. 153.
R. aureus. With. 356. Abbot. 81. Hull. 78.
Lapathum folio acuto, flore aureo. Maii Syn. 142.
B y the trivial name of this fpecles we Ihould expedt to find
it only near the fea; which is far from being exactly the cafe.
It abounds indeed for the moll part in marfhes within the reach
of the tide, but fometimes occurs alfo very far inland, as at
Goldington, Bedfordfliire, from whence Mr. Abbot fent this
fpecimen. It is perennial, flowering in July and Augufl:; and
as the feeds ripen, the whole plant aflumes a rich tawny-yellow
hue, whence the names of Golden Dock, and Rumex aureus,
more appofite perhaps than the Linnsean denomination.
The root confifts of whorled fibres, as in many aquatic plants.
Stem branched, leafy, angular, furrowed, roughifh, often red.
Leaves linear, entire, flat, not waved. Clufters of flowers of
numerous, denfe, leafy whorls. Valves of the fruit triangular,
each bearing an oblong (not globular) grain, and fringed on
each fide with about 4 narrow fharp teeth, longer than the valve
itfelf. Seed fmall.
The R. maritimus of Mr. Curtis, FI. Lond. fa fc. 3. t. 23,
which he, as well as Linnaeus and Hudfon, confounded with
this, is a very diftindt fpecies, known by its more flender
growth, diftant whorls, lefs golden hue, and efpecially by the
fhortnefs of the teeth of its valves. This is not at all a maritime
plant, It is defcribed in FI. Brit, by the name of paluf-
iris.