Rumex obtusifolius L.
bitter dock
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
bitter dock
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from a large taproot; stems erect, solitary, simple (below the inflorescence), 60-120 cm tall, pimply and finely hairy.
Leaves:
Basal leaves widely oblong or widely egg-shaped, heart-shaped at the base, the margins often crisped, the blades 10-30 cm long, the stalks long; stem leaves alternate, several, similar to basal leaves but reduced upward.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of numerous flowers in a large, many-flowered panicle, 30-50 cm long; perianths greenish-brown, the segments with short, stout teeth on each margin; outer segments about 3 mm long, the ascending inner segments about 5 mm long, net-veined, the margins with 2-4 teeth and usually 1 of the 3 segments with a prominent, grain-like swelling.
Fruits:
Achenes, brown, smooth, shiny, about 2 mm long.
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
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Rumex obtusifolius
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
51 | 1 | 324 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
2 | 0 | 5 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
247 | 180 | 315 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
6 | 6 | 7 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
9 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
CDF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
CDF(6), CWH(3) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Mesic to dry roadsides and disturbed areas in the lowland zone; frequent in SW BC, infrequent in SC BC, rare in the Queen Charlotte Islands; introduced from Eurasia.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Acetosa oblongifolia (L.) A. Löve & D. Löve
Rumex obtusifolius subsp. agrestis (Fr.) Danser
Rumex obtusifolius subsp. obtusifolius
Rumex obtusifolius subsp. sylvestris (Wallr.) Rech. f.
Rumex obtusifolius var. sylvestris (Wallr.) Koch