Jepson Herbarium
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Annual to shrub [ tree].
Stem: nodes swollen or not.
Leaf: simple, basal or cauline, generally alternate; ocreae present or 0, generally scarious, persistent or not.
Inflorescence: flower clusters in axillary to terminal cyme-, panicle-, raceme-, spike-, umbel- or head-like arrangements, entire inflorescence or main inflorescence branches generally subtended by bracts (" inflorescence bracts"); peduncles present or 0; flower clusters in Eriogoneae-Eriogonoideae subtended by involucre of >= 1 free or ± fused, sometimes awn-tipped bracts (" involucre bracts") or, in Polygonoideae and rarely in Eriogonoideae, not (if bracts completely fused, involucre "tubular"); pedicels in Eriogoneae each often subtended by 2 free, transparent, linear bractlets or in Polygonoideae all subtended by 2+ fused, membranous, wide bractlets.
Flower: generally bisexual, small, 1–200 per node; perianth parts 2–6, generally in 2 whorls, free or basally fused, generally petal-like, often ± concave adaxially, often darker at midvein, often turning ± red or ± brown in age; stamens [1]3 or 6–9 in 2 whorls; ovary superior, 1-chambered, ovule 1, styles 1–3.
Fruit: achenes, included in or exserted from perianth, generally 3-angled, ovoid or elliptic, generally glabrous.
48 genera, ± 1200 species: worldwide, especially n temperate; some cultivated for food (Coccoloba, sea-grape; Fagopyrum, Rheum, Rumex) or ornamental (Antigonon, lovechain; Coccoloba; Muehlenbeckia; Persicaria; Polygonum), a few timbered (Coccoloba; Triplaris). Several (Emex; Fallopia; Persicaria; Polygonum; Rumex) are weeds. [Freeman & Reveal 2005 FNANM 5:216–601] Treatment of genera in Eriogonoideae based on monographic work of James L. Reveal. Involucre number throughout is number (1–many) per ultimate grouping, at tips of ultimate branches; flower number is per flower cluster or involucre, unless otherwise stated. Fagopyrum esculentum Moench not naturalized, considered an historical waif (or garden weed ± presently), therefore not treated. —Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.

Key to Polygonaceae

Annual to perennial herb; glabrous or papillate and hairy; rhizomed, stoloned, or generally from taproot with a short caudex; occasionally dioecious.
Stem: prostrate, decumbent, or generally erect to ascending, often ± ridged, red-brown in fruit, nodes ± swollen.
Leaf: generally basal and cauline, alternate, petioled except uppermost cauline; ocreae deciduous to persistent.
Inflorescence: axillary or generally terminal, generally panicle-like.
Flower: generally bisexual, bell-shaped, glabrous, green, ± pink, or red; perianth lobes 6, persistent, in fruit outer 3 ± inconspicuous, inner 3 enlarged, hardened, ± veiny, covering fruit, midrib of 1–3 often expanded into tubercle; stamens 6; stigmas 3, fringed.
Fruit: achene, glabrous, ± black or dark brown to ± red.
190–200 species: ± worldwide, 63 in North America. (Latin: sorrel) Mature inner perianth lobes generally needed for identification. Spp. often hybridize.

Perennial, glabrous; taproot vertical.
Stem: ascending to erect, 3–6(9) dm, generally with axillary shoots below 1° inflorescence.
Leaf: blade 5–13 cm, (0.5)1–2.5 cm wide, lance- linear to occasionally ± linear, base tapered, margin entire, flat or ± wavy, tip acute to attenuate.
Inflorescence: terminal, axillary, ± open, interrupted, branches generally simple; whorls 7–20-flowered; pedicels 3–5 mm, ± thread-like, ± thicker distally, joints ± not swollen.
Flower: inner perianth lobes (1.8)2–2.5(3) mm, 1.5–2.1 mm wide, widely triangular, base widely tapered or truncate, margin entire or notched, tip acute; tubercle 1, in width ± <= lobe, smooth to ± warty.
Fruit: 1.8–2 mm, 1–1.3 mm wide, dark red-brown.
Wet places, margins, rocky slopes; < 3500 m. Sierra Nevada, Central Western California, Southwestern California, East of Sierra Nevada, Desert;

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Next taxon: Rumex stenophyllus

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].

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Bioregions in which taxon occurs	Red area (if present) is the part of the bioregion lying between the upper and lower elevation limits of the taxon; markers link to CCH specimen records. If the markers are obscured, reload the page [or change window size and reload]. Yellow markers indicate records that may provide evidence for eFlora range revision or may have georeferencing or identification issues.
Chart based on elevation range in Manual and elevations and coordinates of CCH records. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Note: About half of the CCH records include both elevation and coordinates.	Map made in collaboration with Scott Loarie. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. View all CCH records   CCH collections by month Duplicates counted once; synonyms included. Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa. Blue line denotes Manual flowering time.