Flower ID: IMG_0890.JPG-06-26-2017 Flower name (scientific): Rumex acetosella Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ROO-meks a-kee-TOE-sell-uh Flower name (common): Common Sheep Sorrel Family name (common): Knotweed (Smartweed) Family name (scientific): Polygonaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: A classical Latin name used by Pliny for sorrel. Specific epithet: Latin for plants with acidic leaves, i.e. leaves with a bitter taste. Common name origin: Sorrel is used to denote a number of plants having sour tasting leaves and belonging to the Rumex genus. Thr origin of sheep in the name is uncertain. Flower description: Size: 0.08 to 0.1 inches (2.0 to 2.5 mm) Petal count: 6 sepals (no petals) Color: red Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Erect Size: 4 to 16 inches (10 to 41 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal and alternate, type is simple and lobed Size: Leaves up to 6 cm long and 2 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, normally obovate-oblong, ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate-elliptic, or lanceolate, occasionally, linear-lanceolate to almost linear (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, naturalized, ecologically invasive. Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, fields, roadsides, disturbed areas, waste areas, sun, dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: The plant can be poisonous if eaten in large amounts, due to the presence od oxalic acid. Similar species (if any): Rumex hastatulus (Wild Sorrel, Heartwing Sorrel) has some resemblance, but this species has not been reported from Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa, but is present in Illinois and the more southern states. Rumex acetosa (Green Sorrel) also has a resemblance, but it has basal sagittate leaves that are up to about 12 cm long by 4 cm wide, whereas Rumex acetosella has basal hastate leaves up to approximately 6 cm long and about 2 cm wide. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Cherokee used the plant to treat sores and the Mohegan employed this species for stomach issues. At least nine tribes used the plant as a food source (Moerman, p. 495, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Rumex acetosella subsp. acetosella (The other infraspecifics are Rumex acetosella subsp. acetoselloides (Balansa) Den Nijs, Rumex acetosella subsp. angiocarpus (Murbeck) Murbeck, Rumex acetosella subsp. arenicola Y. Mäkinen ex Elven, Rumex acetosella subsp. multifidus (Linnaeus) Schübler & G. Martens, Rumex acetosella subsp. pyrenaicus (Pourret ex Lapeyrouse) Akeroyd. Of these five subspecies only the latter is recorded in the US.)