RUMEX OBTUSIFOLIUS

Family and Genus:- See- POLYGONACEAE/Subgen. RUMEX

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Rumex (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher Pliny

for sorrel.

Obtusifolius (L) With obtuse leaves

General description:- Perennial, with a short, branched rhizome, forming several-

stemmed clumps.

Stem:-

1) Usually 50-150 cm, stout, sulcate, branched.

Leaves:-

1) Lower, rather long-petiolate; blade, 9-20 x 4-12 cm, ovate-oblong, usually cordate

at the base, obtuse, flat or with slightly undulate margins.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, much-arcuately branched, leafy below; each branch with several

many-flowered whorls, remote below, crowded above.

2) Pedicels, slender, up to 2½ times as long as the valves.

Fruit:-

1) Fruiting valves 4-6 x 2.5-4 mm, ovate to triangular-lingulate, truncate at the base,

subobtuse, variously dentate or spinulose; at least one valve tuberculate.

Key features:-

1) Teeth of valves, seldom more than 2 mm.

2) Basal leaves at least twice as long as wide, ± cordate, obtuse or subacute.

3) Valves. not cordate, with 1 large tubercle and sometimes 2 smaller.

4) Petiole, slightly longer than the lamina.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Ruderal habitats near villages, damp meadows, woodland clearings. (0-)

400-1600 m.

Distribution:- Fairly common in N & C mainland Greece, scattered southwards to

C Peloponnisos. - A variable species occurring in most of Europe and through

Anatolia to NW Iran. Rare on Crete currently known from a few scattered locations

in the west.

Flowering time:- (May-)June-Aug.

Photos by:- Kind permission of Saxifraga - Free Nature Images