Rumex paucifolius
Encyclopedia
Rumex paucifolius is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family
known by the common name alpine sheep sorrel. It is native to western North America from southwestern Canada to California
to Colorado
, where it grows in moist areas in mountainous habitat, up to areas of alpine climate
. This is a variable plant, taking many different forms depending on environment and genetics; even the chromosome
count is quite variable. In addition, it easily hybridizes with other Rumex
. In general, it is a perennial herb producing a cluster of slender, erect stems growing to roughly half a meter in maximum height. Most of the leaves are basal. They are lance-shaped or linear and reach 9 centimeters in length. The inflorescence
is an erect or bending series of many clusters of flowers, some of them widely spaced. Most specimens are dioecious
, with male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. The flowers are usually red and hang from pedicels
, with several flowers to a cluster.
Polygonaceae
Polygonaceae is a family of flowering plants known informally as the "knotweed family" or "smartweed family"— "buckwheat family" in the United States. The name is based on the genus Polygonum and was first used by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789 in his book, Genera Plantarum. The name refers...
known by the common name alpine sheep sorrel. It is native to western North America from southwestern Canada to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, where it grows in moist areas in mountainous habitat, up to areas of alpine climate
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
. This is a variable plant, taking many different forms depending on environment and genetics; even the chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
count is quite variable. In addition, it easily hybridizes with other Rumex
Rumex
The docks and sorrels, genus Rumex L., are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family Polygonaceae....
. In general, it is a perennial herb producing a cluster of slender, erect stems growing to roughly half a meter in maximum height. Most of the leaves are basal. They are lance-shaped or linear and reach 9 centimeters in length. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is an erect or bending series of many clusters of flowers, some of them widely spaced. Most specimens are dioecious
Plant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
, with male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. The flowers are usually red and hang from pedicels
Pedicel (botany)
A pedicel is a stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem of the inflorescence. It is the branches or stalks that hold each flower in an inflorescence that contains more than one flower....
, with several flowers to a cluster.