At a glance
Essentials
- Size
- Reaches heights of **30 to 100 cm**. The range may vary with age, sex and population.
- Distribution
- Native to **Eurasia**; introduced in parts of North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Habitat
- Grows in **meadows**, wetlands, riverbanks, and soils rich in iron or nitrogen.
- Activity
- Leaves are consumed by lepidopteran larvae, such as the blood-vein moth, and by snails and slugs.
- Diet
- Autotrophic plant; its leaves are edible for humans and animals, although the high oxalate content can be toxic to livestock in large quantities.
- Conservation
- Not threatened (extinction risk prediction: not threatened, high confidence).
Observation guide
What to look for
- 01
Sagittate (halberd-shaped) leaves with basal lobes pointing backwards; the lower ones have a long petiole and the upper ones are sessile.
- 02
Erect stem, often reddish in color at the base, with unisexual flowers in spikes that turn purple upon maturing.
- 03
Fruits in the form of a tetrahedral achene with sharp edges, wrapped by persistent crescent-shaped tepals.
Lighting, age and viewing angle can hide features. If identification affects consumption, handling or conservation, consult specialist sources.
Ecology
Description and characteristics
Rumex acetosa is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Polygonaceae, native to Eurasia. It is characterized by an erect stem that can reach up to one meter in height and deep roots. Its leaves, of acidic taste, have a sagittate or halberd-shaped form, with the lower ones being petiolate and the upper ones sessile. The species is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers develop on separate plants. The flowers, greenish-red in color turning purple upon maturing, are grouped in spikes and produce fruits in the form of a tetrahedral achene protected by persistent tepals.