Relatives

Rumex hydrolapathum Huds. - Great Water Dock.

Taxonomic position.

Family Polygonaceae Juss., genus Rumex L.

Morphology and biology.

Perennial plant with erect stem 50-200 cm tall, usually branching above middle, with branches rising obliquely upwards. Leaves glabrous and smooth, with greyish tinge. Blades of radical and lower cauline leaves large, 20-50 cm long and 4-10 cm wide, oblong-lanceolate or broadly lanceolate, with cunate base. Inflorescence paniculate. Pedicels with thickened joint below middle. Inner tepals triangular-ovate in fruiting, 5-7 mm long, 4.5-5.5 mm wide, broadly rounded at base, with almost entire margins, all with nodules. Fruits 3.5-4.5 mm long and 2-2.5 mm wide, brownish. Flowers in June, fruits in July.

Distribution.

General distribution: Europe - throughout; Western Asia. Former USSR: European part - almost throughout; Caucasus - Ciscaucasia; West Siberia - southwest, rare.

Ecology.

On watersides, in bogs, boggy meadows and damp forests.

Use and economic value.

Wild relative of cultivated sorrel.

References.

Gubanov IA., Kiseleva KV., Novikov VS., Tikhomirov VN. 2003. Illustrated Manual of the Middle Russia Plants. V.2. Moscow: KMK. P.64. (In Russian).
Kharkevich SS., ed. 1989. Vascular plants of the Soviet Far East. V.4. Leningrad: Nauka. 380 p. (In Russian).
Krasnoborov IM., Malyshev LI., ed. 1992. Flora of Siberia. V.5. Salicaceae - Amaranthaceae. Novosibirsk: Nauka. 281 p. (In Russian).
Komarov VL., ed. 1936. Flora URSS. V.5. (In Russian). P.391.
Cherepanov SK. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR). St.Petersburg. 990 p. (In Russian).

© T.N.Smekalova

Photo L.Yu.Shipilina
 

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