RUMEX BUCEPHALOPHORUS subsp. AEGAEUS

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

Common Names:- Horned or red dock.

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

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

for sorrel.

Bucephalophorus (L) Ox-head bearing.

Aegaeus (L) From the Aegean

General description:- Very variable low to medium annual

Stems:-

1) 5-50 cm. slender to robust, often many and branched near the base. Thickened

fruits often present at the base of the stems.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, simple, entire, from 10-20 mm long, the

a) lower, spatulate, the

b) upper, lanceolate hairy.

Flowers:-

1) Very small, in racemes or spike-like; usually in clusters of 2 or 3. greenish.

2) Pedicels, heteromorphic, some cylindrical and short, others long, curved, convex

and clavately thickened.

3) Valves, 2-3 x 0·5-1·2 mm, lingulate, entire, or 1·5-2·5 x 0·5-1 mm, narrowly

triangular, with (2)3 or 4 slender teeth on each margin.

Fruit:-

1) Small, achenes with curved teeth, carried by curved stems.

Key features:-

1) Valves, teeth, straight or slightly curved.

2) Lower leaves, not more than 3½ times as long as wide.

3) Flowers, in clusters of 2-4.

4) Valves, all narrowly triangular, with (2)3 or 4 slender teeth on each margin.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Coastal sand, rocky and stony places, open ground in dry open shrubby

vegetation sometimes in fallow fields, road embankments and ruderal habitats. 0-

800(-1400) m.

Distribution:- Mediterranean region E. to W. Turkey, including Portugal but not

Cyprus. Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-June.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis