Rumex spiralis is a flowering plant commonly known as winged dock in the family Polygonaceae. This is a perennial herbaceous plant that is predominantly native to southern Texas.[1] This plant grows between 0–200 m in altitude.[1][2]

Rumex spiralis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
Species:
R. spiralis
Binomial name
Rumex spiralis
Small

Description

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The stems are a brownish color and grow 50–90 cm high. Connected to the stem are pedicels of simple thin proximal attachments that slightly thicken to 2–8 mm. The light green leaves are arranged alternately on the stem.[3] The common leaf shape of Rumex spiralis is lanceolate. The leaf margins are entire. The leaf venation is pinnate. The leaves are 10–15 cm long and 3–5 cm wide.[2] The flowers are in clusters of 12–20. The cordate sepals are 7–10 mm by 8–10 mm, and have acuminate tips. The sepals also appear distinctly wrinkled and reddish-brown in color.[4]

Habitat and distribution

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Rumex spiralis is endemic to southern Texas.[2] This plant thrives on sandy shorelines.[2]

Uses

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It is typical for species of the genus Rumex to be high in oxalates which could be toxic to humans if consumed in high quantities.[5][6] There are no recorded uses for this particular species.[1][2][6][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Small, John K. (January 15, 1895). "Studies in the Botany of the Southeastern United States.III". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 22 (1). Torrey Botanical Society: 43–48. doi:10.2307/2485405. JSTOR 2485405.
  2. ^ a b c d e "eFloras: Flora of North America".
  3. ^ "Rumex spiralis Small". worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  4. ^ "Rumex spiralis in Global Plants on JSTOR". plants.jstor.org. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  5. ^ a b Miyagi, Atsuko; Uchimiya, Minori; Kawai-Yamada, Maki; Uchimiya, Hirofumi (2013). "An antagonist treatment in combination with tracer experiments revealed isocitrate pathway dominant to oxalate biosynthesis in Rumex obtusifolius L.". Metabolomics. 9 (3): 590–598. doi:10.1007/s11306-012-0486-5.
  6. ^ a b Dickie, C. W.; Hamann, M. H.; Carroll, W. D.; Chow, F. H. (1978). "Oxalate (Rumex venosus) poisoning in cattle". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 173 (1): 73–4. PMID 670054.