Rumex acetosa
 
Sour Dock

Mid-Upper Stem Leaf Bottom

Approximately 10 Miles South of Blaine Lake
15-July-2007

Note that the key to the families in Budd's Flora requires "stamens and pistils in each flower; NOT [stamens or pistils in separate flowers on the same plant]".  This is not correct for this species which is dioecious.

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Acetosa: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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stems arising from a thick taproot; NOT [stems arising from slender rhizomes]

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stems stout; NOT [stems slender]

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leaves hastate or sagittate at base; NOT [leaves cuneate, rounded, truncate or cordate at base]

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flowers unisexual, plants dioecious; NOT [flowers perfect or mostly so]

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valves much larger than achene; NOT [valves equalling the achene, or a little larger, and closely investing it]

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valves NOT greatly enlarging in fruit and becoming bright pink

 

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Rumex: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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NOT [dwarf annual, leaves sub-opposite, calyx 3-parted, stamens 3]

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ocreae (united, sheathing, papery stipules) present

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leaves lanceolate; NOT [leaves reniform]

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flowers NOT in involucrate clusters; NOT [flower clusters subtended by an involucre of bracts]

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sepals 6; NOT [sepals 4], NOT [sepals 5, more or less equal]

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inner sepals large, 15-20 mm; NOT [the inner sepals 4-6 mm]

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inner sepals enclosing the fruit; NOT [inner sepals erect]

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stamens 8 or fewer; NOT [stamens 9]

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stigmas tufted

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fruit winged

 

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Polygonaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
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herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

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land plants; NOT [water plants]

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plants rooted in soil or water; NOT [plants arising from branches of trees]

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plants NOT parasitic on trees

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plants with more than one pair of leaves; NOT [plants with a single pair of large reniform leaves]

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leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]

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leaves with stipules

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stipules forming a sheath above nodes

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stamens and pistils in each flower; NOT [stamens or pistils in separate flowers on the same plant] (see above)