Rumex patientia (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Rumex patientia L.

Protologue: Sp. pl. 1: 333 (1753).

Distribution

Native to central Europe and East Asia, but naturalized in the highlands of many tropical countries.

Uses

In Java, occasionally cultivated as a vegetable, but it could be used medicinally as well.

Observations

• A perennial herb, 1-2 m tall.
• Basal leaves ovate-lanceolate, base rounded to narrowed, margin slightly undulate or not.
• Inflorescence a panicle; flowers bisexual, inner perianth segments enlarged in fruit, orbicular, 6-10 mm long, base subcordate, often denticulate, only one valve with a well developed tubercle.
• Nutlet 3-4 mm long.

In Java, R. patientia is occasionally found as an escape from cultivation, up to 2550 m altitude.

Selected sources

74, 647, 696, 914.

Authors

• Nguyen Thi Do

• See also under Rumex (PROSEA) for the vegetable use.