''Rumex spiralis'' is a flowering plant commonly known as winged dock in the family
Polygonaceae
The Polygonaceae are a family of flowering plants known informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—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 ...
. This is a perennial herbaceous plant that is predominantly native to southern Texas.
This plant grows between 0–200 m in altitude.
Description
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. 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.
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.
Habitat and distribution
''Rumex spiralis'' is endemic to southern Texas.
This plant thrives on sandy shorelines.
Uses
It is typical for species of the genus ''
Rumex
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribu ...
'' to be high in
oxalates
which could be toxic to humans if consumed in high quantities.
There are no recorded uses for this particular species.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q18079153
spiralis