Rumex bucephalophorus, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1964, Flora Europaea - Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae, Cambridge University Press : 88

50. R. bucephalophorus L. , Sp. Pl. 336 (1753) .

Annual, or rarely perennial, with one or several slender stems; very variable in habit and size. Leaves very small. Flowers usually in clusters of 2 or 3. Pedicels usually dimorphic; some slender and very short, others long, broad and flat. Valves small, variable in size and shape. Sandy and rocky places, usually near the sea. Mediterranean region and S. W. Europe. Al Az BI Co Cr G a G r Hs It Ju Lu Sa Si?Tu.

Very variable. The following treatment is a summary of that given by K. H. Rechinger, Bot. Not. 1939: 485-504 (1939).

1 Pedicels nearly all short and slender; valves all similar, 3- 3-5(-4) mm, with 3(-4) broad-based teeth on each side; nut

c. 2 mm (c) subsp. graecus 1 Pedicels dimorphic, some long, broad and flat; valves usually

of two kinds, but all with narrow-based teeth.

2 Stems 3-10 cm, numerous, arcuate-ascending; flowers dimorphic, a cluster of larger ones always present at the base

of the plant, with short, not articulate pedicels; valves of upper flowers 2 mm, with 3 short teeth on each side; nut 1-3-1-7 mm (d) subsp. aegaeus 2 Stems 10-40 cm, solitary or few, ± erect, without a cluster of

larger flowers at the base; nut 1-8-2 mm

3Valves usually with 3 straight teeth on each side; nut 1-8 mm

(a) subsp. bucephalophorus 3Valves usually with 4 hooked teeth on each side; nut up to

2 mm (b) subsp. hispanicus