Appearance

Rumex acetosella is a perennial herb that can reach 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) in height.

Foliage

Leaves are alternate, petiolate, glabrous, entire, 3-lobed, up to 1.2 in. (3 cm) long and occur in a basal rosette.

Flowers

Flowering occurs from March to November, when yellowish-green flowers (male) or reddish (female) flowers develop in clusters of a branched inflorescence at the apex of the stem. Flowers are typically drooping and have 3 petals and 3 sepals, each less than 0.04-0.06 in. (1-1.5 mm) long.

Fruit

Fruits are red achenes.

Ecological Threat

Rumex acetosella is native to Europe and occurs along roadsides and other disturbed areas.

Resources

• Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• California Invasive Plant Council
• Connecticut Invasive Plant List
• Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
• Connecticut Noxious Weeds
• Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin
• Invasive Plant Species of West Virginia
• Iowa Noxious Weeds
• Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
• John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
• Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council - Moderate Threat
• National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
• New Hampshire Invasive Plant Species Watch List
• Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
• Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998
• Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
• WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
• West Virginia Invasive Species Strategic Plan and Volunteer Guidelines 2014
• West Virginia Native Plant Society, Flora West Virginia Project, and West Virginia Curatorial Database System, September 3, 1999

References