Rumex paucifolius Nutt.
alpine sorrel (alpine sheep sorrel)
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
alpine sorrel (alpine sheep sorrel)
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) herb from a thick taproot and short, usually branched crown; stems erect, solitary to several, unbranched (below the inflorescence), 20-60 cm tall, smooth.
Leaves:
Basal leaf blades elliptic to egg-shaped, tapered at both ends, smooth, the blades 4-10 cm long, the stalks long; stem leaves alternate, usually 2-3, greatly reduced, becoming unstalked.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of numerous, unisexual flowers in a slender panicle; flower stalks jointed below midlength; perianths pale to deep red, the inner segments 3-4 mm long, entire, lacking grain-like swellings.
Fruits:
Achenes, smooth, about 1.5 mm long. vol4_3
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Moist to wet forest openings and meadows in the subalpine and alpine zones; rare in SC BC; E to SW AB and S to CO and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Acetosa gracilescens (Rech. f.) A. Löve & Evenson
Rumex paucifolius subsp. paucifolius Nutt.
Rumex paucifolius var. gracilescens Rech. f.