Rumex crispus

Native of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Introduced and naturalized in North America.

Roadsides, fields, and disturbed sites.

June to August

Yellow to greenish

12″ to 60″

The stems become red with age.

The leaves are long and narrow, up to 6" long and 1" wide, on long petioles. They have a rounded to heart-shaped base. The leaf margins are wavy and crisped, hence the species name crispus. The upper leaf surface is dull, not shiny.

Flower stalks are jointed near the base.

The fruit has three membraneous sepals, called “valves”, each with an elongated, tuber-like projection, for a total of three tubercles per fruit. The margin the valve does not have conspicuous teeth. The fruit becomes dark brown with maturity.