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Magnoliopsida
Rumex obtusifolius L.
EOL Text
Rumex obtusifolius subsp. agrestis (Fries) Danser; R. obtusifolius var. agrestis Fries.
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Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242345760 |
Rumex crispatulus Michaux; R. rugelii Meisner
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Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242345760 |
The non-native Bitter Dock is a fairly common plant that occurs in the majority of counties in Illinois; it is least common in the NW and north central areas of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist woodland edges, seeps, semi-shaded areas along streams, gardens and edges of yards, areas along buildings, vacant lots, roadside ditches, and waste areas. Bitter Dock is native to Eurasia and prefers disturbed areas. Faunal Associations
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Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/bitter_dock.htm |
Waste places, roadsides, fields, shores, meadows, wet woods, swamps; 0-2300m.
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Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242345760 |
Field margins, moist valleys; sea level to 100 m.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242345760 |
Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Apion frumentarium feeds on leaf (petiole base) of Rumex obtusifolius
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Apion hydrolapathi feeds within stem of Rumex obtusifolius
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / pathogen
mycelial fan of Armillaria mellea infects and damages live root collar of Rumex obtusifolius
Foodplant / pathogen
mycelial fan of Armillaria ostoyae infects and damages live root collar of Rumex obtusifolius
Remarks: captive: in captivity, culture, or experimentally induced
Foodplant / open feeder
hypophyllous adult of Gastrophysa viridula grazes on live leaf of Rumex obtusifolius
Remarks: season: 4-9
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Hypera rumicis grazes on leaf of Rumex obtusifolius
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Lindtneria leucobryophila is saprobic on dead stem of Rumex obtusifolius
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Nematus crassus grazes on leaf of Rumex obtusifolius
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed, gregarious pycnidium of Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Phomopsis durandiana is saprobic on dead stem of Rumex obtusifolius
Remarks: season: 5-8
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed perithecium of Plagiostoma devexum is saprobic on dead stem of Rumex obtusifolius
Foodplant / parasite
pycnium of Puccinia phragmitis parasitises live Rumex obtusifolius
Foodplant / parasite
colony of Ramularia anamorph of Ramularia rubella parasitises live leaf of Rumex obtusifolius
Remarks: season: 3-11
Foodplant / saprobe
pycnidium of Rhabdospora coelomycetous anamorph of Rhabdospora cirsii var. rumicis is saprobic on dead stem of Rumex obtusifolius
Remarks: season: 3
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Steccherinum fimbriatum is saprobic on dead stem of Rumex obtusifolius
Other: unusual host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
amphigenous uredium of Uromyces rumicis parasitises live leaf of Rumex obtusifolius
Foodplant / spot causer
immersed pseudothecium of Venturia rumicis causes spots on fading leaf of Rumex obtusifolius
Remarks: season: 11-7
Flowering late spring-early fall.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242345760 |
Bitter Dock is one of the more ornamental species of Docks. It is fairly easy to distinguish from other Docks by its shiny leaves, which are rather broad, well-rounded or cordate at the base, and crisped along their margins. Another distinctive characteristic is the appearance of the calyx, which has spiny teeth along its margins. Another common name for this species is Broad-Leaved Dock.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/bitter_dock.htm |
This perennial plant is 2-3½' tall. Initially, it consists of a rosette of basal leaves, from which one or more flowering stalks develop. The basal leaves are up to 1' long and 4" across. Their petioles are long and slender, while their blades are oblong-ovate or oblong-cordate, crisped and slightly undulate along the margins, and glabrous. The central vein of each basal leaf is often tinted red, and a reticulated network of fine secondary veins is observable across the upper surface. The leaf base is slightly cordate or well-rounded, rather than tapering or wedge-shaped. The cauline leaves alternate along the flowering stalks. They are similar in appearance to the basal leaves, although somewhat shorter in length and more narrow; their petioles are also shorter. The stalks are round, slightly ribbed, and glabrous; they often have prominent longitudinal veins that are tinted red. Each stalk terminates in a panicle of whorled racemes up to 1' in length. The whorls of greenish red flowers are somewhat interrupted along the length of the racemes. The flowers droop downward from pedicels about ½" in length when they are fully developed. Each flower is about ¼" long, consisting of 6 sepals (3 inner and 3 outer sepals) and no petals. Like other Rumex spp. (Docks), Bitter Dock is monoecious and has staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers on the same plant. Both types of flowers are intermingled together on the racemes. The male flowers have 6 stamens and inner sepals that are dull yellow, while the female flowers have a pistil and inner sepals that are often red. As the female flowers develop, their inner sepals become enlarged and surround a single tubercle (hard-coated seed). Each face of this tripartite fruit is oval-cordate or oval-deltoid in shape; its margins are membranous and there are 2-4 spiny teeth along each margin, particularly in the upper half. In bright sunlight, these fruits often turn bright red and are rather colorful. The blooming period usually occurs during the late spring and lasts about 2 weeks, after which the fruits mature slowly during the first half of the summer. The flowers are wind-pollinated and there is no floral scent. The hard-coated seeds are ovoid-oblongoid and rather large in size. Surrounded by the membranous inner sepals, they can float on water or blow about in the wind. The root system consists of a stout taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/bitter_dock.htm |