About Rumex hastatulus Baldwin ex Elliott
Rumex hastatulus Baldwin ex Elliott is an erect herbaceous plant. It has simple, oblong, alternate leaves that measure 2–6 cm (0.79–2.36 in) in length and 0.5–2 cm (0.20–0.79 in) in width. Its bright red flowers grow in branched clusters, and measure 2.5–3.2 mm (0.098–0.126 in) long and 2.7–3.2 mm (0.11–0.13 in) wide. It produces brownish orange fruit. The leaves, flowers, and seeds have a sour taste, and are edible when consumed in small doses. This species is dioecious, meaning individual plants produce either only male or only female reproductive structures. It is distributed across eastern and southeastern North America, where it grows in alluvial or ruderal habitats including river valley meadows and waste areas. Though the plant is known to be poisonous, it is commonly used in small doses in salads and soups. Culinary use is limited, because large portions can cause nausea, stomach cramps, and headaches. It is sometimes used to make "sorrel soup" in France. It is also frequently used for scientific research, due to its unique genetic structure. Its sex is determined by the ratio of X and Y chromosomes, a gender determination system that is unusual among flowering plants. This has led to extensive research into the environmental and genetic factors that control sex determination in this species.
