Flower ID: IMG_2144.JPG-06-29-2022 Flower name (scientific): Rumex obtusifolius Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ROO-meks ob-too-sih-FOH-lee-us Flower name (common): Bitter Dock Family name (common): Buckwheat Family name (scientific): Polygonaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: A classical Latin name used by Pliny for sorrel. Specific epithet: Obtuse-leaved. Common name origin: Dock comes from pre 1150 (OED). Dock is used as a common reference to different species in the Rumex genus. Bitter presumably reflects the taste. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 mm) Petal count: 6 tepals Color: green Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 24 to 48 inches (61 to 122 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal and alternate, type is simple Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, oblong to ovate-oblong, sometimes broadly ovate (FNA), basal oblong-ovate or oblong-cordate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to July Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Disturbed areas, waste places, roadsides, fields, meadows, woods, forests, swamps, streambanks, moist to wet, semi shade to sun. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Ethnobotany: The Chippewa used this plant to treat skin eruptions (Densmore, p. 350, 1928). The Delaware used the plant as a blood medicine and the Iroquois employed the plant as a contrceptive and to treat whooping cough (Moerman, p. 498, 1998). Latitude: 44.805740 Longitude: -91.530768 Altitude: 252.00 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Grant, Iron, Kenosha, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, 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, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (BC, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Rumex obtusifolius subsp. obtusifolius (The other infraspecifics are Rumex obtusifolius subsp. subalpinus (Schur) Čelakovský, Rumex obtusifolius subsp. sylvestris (Lamarck) Čelakovský, Rumex obtusifolius subsp. transiens (Simonkai) Karl Heinz Rechinger. None of these three subspecies have been recorded from North America.) Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FACW