Rumex acetosa L.

Slightly puberulent, dioecious perennial; rootstock ± woody; stems to c. 1 m tall, reddish towards base. Lower lvs with long slender petioles several times > lamina; uppermost lvs shortly petiolate or subsessile, somewhat amplexicaul. Lamina 3.5–12 × 1–3 cm, narrowly oblong to ± lanceolate, pleasantly sour to taste, entire except for 2, ± downwards-directed, basal lobes to c. 1.3 cm long; apex obtuse. Infl. to c. 30 cm long, reddish, with several simple branches, leafless. Fls in fascicles; pedicels slender. Perianth of ♂ fls 1.5–2 mm long. Outer perianth of ♀ fls c. 0.5 mm long, soon strongly reflexed; valves orbicular-cordate, winged, entire and lacking tubercles, enlarging to 2.8–3.5–(4) mm at fruiting, ± rose-red. Nut c. 2–(2.3) mm long, dark shining brown, acutely angled.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Jan.