''Rumex palustris'', or marsh dock, is a plant species of the genus ''

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 ...

'', found in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

. The species is a dicot belonging to the family

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 ...

. The species

epithet An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

''palustris'' is Latin for "of the marsh" which indicates its common habitat.

Description

''Rumex palustris'' is an herb that can be perennial, biennial, or annual. The stem is upwardly inclined and bears sparse hairy protuberances. The stem is less than one meter tall. The branch attachment is alternate. The basal leaves are lanceolate; they are broader in the middle and taper to a pointed end. The cauline leaves are also lanceolate. The inflorescence consists of whorls with reddish-brown flowers. The root is wider at the middle and tapers towards the end. This species' diploid number is 60.

Taxonomy

The species name was first mentioned by

Leonard Plukenet Leonard Plukenet (1641–1706) was an English botanist, Royal Professor of Botany and gardener to Queen Mary. Biography Plukenet published ''Phytographia'' (London, 1691–1696) in four parts in which he described and illustrated rare exotic p ...

, based on a collection made by

Isaac Rand Isaac Rand (1674–1743) was an English botanist and apothecary, who was a lecturer and director at the Chelsea Physic Garden. Life Isaac was probably son of James Rand, who in 1674 agreed, with thirteen other members of the Society of Apothecari ...

. The authority of the accepted description, ''Rumex palustris'', was

James Edward Smith James Edward Smith may refer to: * James Edward Smith (botanist), English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society * James Edward Smith (murderer), American murderer * James Edward Smith (politician), Canadian businessman and mayor of Toronto * ...

, in Fl. Brit. volume 1, on page 394 in 1800.

Subspecies

*''Rumex palustris uliginosus'' *''Rumex palustris maritimus''

Habitat and distribution

''Rumex palustris'' can be found in wetlands such as moist meadows, marshes, lake shores and the shallow edges of streams. It is native to Europe and is concentrated in the Southeastern and Middle parts of the continent. The species was also introduced to America; it now grows in California and New Jersey.

Uses

''Rumex palustris'' is used as a model organism for research. Most studies involve flood-resistance in ''Rumex palustris'' due to its unique mechanism to elongate in an effort to outgrow submergence. When flooded, ''Rumex palustris'' is able to elongate its petioles in order to emerge from the surface of the water. This mechanism is a beneficial adaptation for ''Rumex palustris'' to survive its wetland habitat and is being studied for research on plant stress resistance.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1761334 palustris Flora of the United Kingdom Flora of Europe Plants described in 1800