Rumex crispus L.

Global description

Rumex crispus is perennial, robust plant, 50 cm to 1.5 m and more, spreading through fragmentation of rhizomes and roots, as well as by seedS. Roots are fleshy and saffron yellow in colour. Its erect stems are sturdy and highly branched. They have alternate leaves of two different types: the lower are stalked, ovate-lanceolate; the upper, in turn, are usually sessile. Inflorescence in erect large panicle with multiple pinkish-greenish flowers which gives a lot of brown-red achenes. At maturity, the plant takes on a reddish to brownish colour and produces many seeds embedded in an envelope (rest of the flower) allowing them to float on the water and cling to the hairs of some animals.
                                             
Cotyledons

Cotyledons elliptic to ovate, rounded apex, more or less stalked.
 
First leaves

Leaves simple, entire, elliptic to ovate, carried by a petiole longer than leaf blade. They are alternate but in rosette at the base. Base of the leaf blade asymmetric. An ocrea is visible from the second leaf.
 
General habit

Large herbaceous perennial, robust plant and with high erect growth habit, generally 70 cm but can reach up to 2 m. At maturity it goes from green plant with greenish-pinkish flowers, to a reddish-brown plant.
 
Underground system

Big fleshy taproot, very deep (up to 2 m), saffron yellow in colour.
 
Stem

Sturdy stem, erect, branched at the top, short and erect branches. It is cylindrical, striated, with prominent longitudinal veins. It is fleshy and can measure 3 cm in diameter. It is green  in colour and can be tinted red.
 
Leaf

Simple alternate leaves. The lower leaves are arranged in rosette, oblong-lanceolate acute, attenuated, truncated or cordate at the base, dark green in color, they have a long channeled petiole. The lamina, 30 cm long and 10 cm wide, is often doubly wound in cigar on the underside. The base of the petiole ends in whitish membraneous ocrea surrounding the stem. The upper leaves are often sessile, with undulated- crisped margin. The lamina is 4 to 5 times longer than wide, can reach up to 50 cm long. Midrib is thick and fleshy. The apex is rounded, the base rounded, roped or asymmetrical. Both sides are glabrous.
 
Inflorescence

The inflorescence is a large, dense and elongated panicle formed of dense multiflorous close whorls, most without leaves. It can measure up to 50 cm high.
 
Flower

Greenish or reddish flowers,  carried by an articulated stalk towards the lower quarter of its length. They are formed of two sets of membranous tepals, the internal are more developed than external. The tepals are heart-shaped, fringed at the margin and with a tubercule at the base. These tepals are persistent and surround the fruit at maturity.
 
Fruit

The fruit is an alkene with 3 fruiting valves, tetrahedral in shape with a rounded base, 2 to 2.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide. They have oval apiculate faces, entire or serrated at the base, with unequal and ovoid granules. Often one of its granules grows. Bright Reddish-brown in color with smooth walls.
 

Origin

Rumex crispus is native to Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and Asia

Worldwide distribution

Temperate and tropical regions of almost the entire globe: North and South America, Eastern and Southern Africa, North Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, it has been reported in New Caledonia since 1951, Hawaii).

https://www.gbif.org/fr/species/8195144