Rumex sagittatus

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Rumex sagittatus
Turkey rhubarb leaf.jpg
Characteristic arrow-shaped leaves
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
Species:
R. sagittatus
Binomial name
Rumex sagittatus
Synonyms
  • Acetosa luxurians(L.) Chaz.
  • Acetosa sagittata(Thunb.) L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs
  • Eutralia luxurians(L.) Raf.
  • Rumex burchelliiCampd.
  • Rumex luxuriansL.
  • Rumex pseudoscutatusDinter
  • Rumex scandensBurch.

Rumex sagittatus, synonym Acetosa sagittata, commonly known as turkey rhubarb or rambling dock or potato vine, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to southern Africa, which has become a weed in Australia and New Zealand. [1]

Contents

Description

Rumex sagittatus is a soft-stemmed herbaceous scrambling and climbing plant with prominent triangular arrow-shaped leaves 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) in length and 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) wide. The grooved green stem may be distinctly tinted red at times. The small pinkish flowers grow on panicles up to 15 cm (6 in) long. These are followed by a 3-sided greenish 0.8–1 cm diameter pod. The plant grows from a tuber, which may be up to 10 cm (4 in) long. The plant flowers and sets seed over summer, and may die back to the tuber in colder areas. [1]

Taxonomy

Rumex sagittatus was first described in 1794 by Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg. It was later placed in the genus Acetosa by Australian botanists Lawrie Johnson and Barbara Briggs, a placement not accepted by other sources, such as Plants of the World Online. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin sagittus "arrow", hence "arrow-shaped". [2] The plant is known by various common names including turkey rhubarb, arrowhead vine, potato vine, rambling dock or climbing sorrel. [1]

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to southern Africa, where it occurs from Malawi and Zambia south to South Africa. It has become naturalised in many parts of Australia near urban areas, from Queensland to eastern Tasmania, [1] and warmer locales in New Zealand. [3]

It spreads by seed or by resprouting from the tuber. The seeds float on water and hence may be conveyed far from the parent plant. Tubers may be broken up by tractors or road graders and each fragment may be able to regrow; they can also be difficult to find with removal of plants by hand. [1] Rumex sagittatus may grow and smother other plants it covers. [4]

Uses

The leaves and young stems can be cooked and eaten and are sometimes cultivated as a vegetable in Java. [5]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Rumex acetosella</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Dioscorea bulbifera</i> Species of flowering plant in the yam family Dioscoreaceae

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<i>Anredera cordifolia</i> Species of vine

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<i>Asparagus asparagoides</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae

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<i>Rumex maritimus</i> Species of flowering plant

Rumex maritimus, commonly called golden dock, bristle dock, or seashore dock, is an annual plant species of the genus Rumex. Rumex maritimus grows in Argentina, Burma, Canada, China, and the United States. It is native to Canada and most of the 48 states. The life span of Rumex maritimus is rarely biennial in moist environments. This herb belongs to the family Polygonaceae.

<i>Rumex hypogaeus</i> Species of flowering plant

Rumex hypogaeus, commonly known in English as southern threecornerjack, devil's thorn, or double gee, is a herbaceous plant of the Polygonaceae. It is native in South Africa and is an invasive species in Australia, Texas in the USA & Pakistan.

<i>Ipomoea pandurata</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea pandurata, known as man of the earth, wild potato vine, manroot, wild sweet potato, and wild rhubarb, is a species of herbaceous perennial vine native to North America. It is a twining plant of woodland verges and rough places with heart-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped white flowers with a pinkish throat. The large tuberous roots can be roasted and eaten, or can be used to make a poultice or infusion. When uncooked, the roots have purgative properties.

<i>Bryonia alba</i> Species of plant

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<i>Cardiospermum halicacabum</i> Species of flowering plant

Cardiospermum halicacabum, known as the lesser balloon vine, balloon plant or love in a puff or mudakathaan (முடக்கத்தான்), is a climbing plant widely distributed across tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Australia, and North America that is often found as a weed along roads and rivers.

<i>Clematis orientalis</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Clematis orientalis is a deciduous vine or scrambling shrub in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, that originates from Asia and Central Europe. It was brought to the United States as an ornamental plant but escaped cultivation leading to its classification as a noxious weed in some states. Common names for C. orientalis include Chinese clematis, Oriental virginsbower, orange peel, and orange peel clematis.

<i>Gloriosa superba</i> Species of plant

Gloriosa superba is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. Common names include flame lily, climbing lily, creeping lily, glory lily, gloriosa lily, tiger claw, agnishikha and fire lily.

<i>Rumex sanguineus</i> Species of flowering plant

Rumex sanguineus, commonly known as wood dock, bloody dock or red-veined dock, is a perennial flowering plant species in the family Polygonaceae. Rumex sanguineus is a dicot and can be observed in Europe with at least two varieties.

<i>Rumex occidentalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Rumex occidentalis is a flowering plant species belonging to the family Polygonaceae. Commonly known as western dock, Rumex occidentalis can be found in parts of Western North America.

Rumex lapponicus, known commonly as Lapland mountain sorrel is a perennial flowering herb species in the family Polygonaceae. It is commonly found in meadows and rock outcrops, as well as montane, arenicolous, and alluvial habitats.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Wolff, Mark A. (1999). Winning the war of Weeds: The Essential Gardener's Guide to Weed Identification and Control. Kenthurst, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 49. ISBN   0-86417-993-6.
  2. Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 883. ISBN   0-304-52257-0.
  3. "climbing dock". Auckland Regional Council.
  4. "Turkey Rhubarb". Sydney Weeds Committees. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19.
  5. "Acetosa sagittata". Survival Tracking and Awareness. Retrieved 9 September 2011.