common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
grassleaf sorrel, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of the
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
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Rumex
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribu ...
'' and the knotweed
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Polygonaceae
The Polygonaceae are a family of flowering plants known informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—buckwheat family in the United States. The name is based on the genus ''Polygonum'', and was first used by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789 ...
.
Description
''Rumex graminifolius'' is a slender perennial plant that grows from 0.1 m to 0.5 m high, with roots that run right below the surface, as well as a skinny stems and edible pointy, flat leaves. The leaves, when consumed raw, have a bitter taste. The lower leaves have 4 to 6 centimeters in length with long petioles and a membranous ocrea formed of fused, sheathing stipules. The upper ones are inflorescences, flowers and frequently become a bright reddish color. It has whorled spikes of reddish-green flowers, which bloom in late spring-summer.
Distribution and habitat
''Rumex graminifolius'' is found is arctic regions and costal rocks throughout Northern North America, Alaska and North Europe. It can grow in acid, neutral and basic soils yet prefers moist soil. It can also grow in semi-shade or no shade.
Taxononmy
Rudolph, Johann Heinrich. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 10(2): 264, pl. 10. 1811. (7 Sept 1811)
Uses
This species is generally used as food plants by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species, and are the only host plants of ''