*Rumex obtusifolius Linnaeus. Section: Rumex. Common name: Bitter Dock. Phenology: Apr-Jun; Jun-Aug. Habitat: Pastures, barnyards, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe.
Origin/Endemic status: Europe
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, FNA5, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV; > Rumex obtusifolius L. ssp. obtusifolius — NE, NY. Basionym: Rumex obtusifolius L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Rumex obtusifolius - FNA5
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACW
- Midwest: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Steven Baskauf | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷
© Steven Baskauf | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial from a taproot, found in pastures, barnyards and other disturbed areas. Native of Europe.
Stems: Stems single, slightly ribbed, unbranched (except in inflorescence), sometimes reddish, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves mostly basal, petiolate, oblong-oval, often with a heart-shaped base, to 1 ft. long, undulate-margined, the central vein often red-tinted; any stem leaves lance-shaped and shorter.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in large (to 1 ft. long) terminal cluster, the ascending branches raceme-like with well-spaced whorls of flowers that droop on short stalks. Flowers greenish-red, about 1/4 in. long, consisting of 6 tepals (3 inner, 3 outer); male flowers have 6 stamens and dull yellow inner tepals, while female flowers have a pistil and usually reddish inner tepals.
Fruits: Fruit a tiny achene enclosed in 3 enlarged, triangular-oval tepals with 2-4 teeth on their margins.
Comments:
Height: 2-3 1/2 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial from a taproot, found in pastures, barnyards and other disturbed areas. Native of Europe.
stems: Stems single, slightly ribbed, unbranched (except in inflorescence), sometimes reddish, smooth.
leaves: Leaves mostly basal, petiolate, oblong-oval, often with a heart-shaped base, to 1 ft. long, undulate-margined, the central vein often red-tinted; any stem leaves lance-shaped and shorter.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in large (to 1 ft. long) terminal cluster, the ascending branches raceme-like with well-spaced whorls of flowers that droop on short stalks. Flowers greenish-red, about 1/4 in. long, consisting of 6 tepals (3 inner, 3 outer); male flowers have 6 stamens and dull yellow inner tepals, while female flowers have a pistil and usually reddish inner tepals.
fruits: Fruit a tiny achene enclosed in 3 enlarged, triangular-oval tepals with 2-4 teeth on their margins.
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germination code:
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