Rumex spinosus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 337. 1753; R. glaber Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.- Arab. 75. 1775; Emex spinosa (L.) Campd., Monogr. Rumex. 58. 1819; Freeman, Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org vol. 5; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org Pakistan V. 20.

Annual monoecious herb, 30-50 cm long, glabrous. Stems ascending to erect, base often reddish, branched proximally. Roots fleshy. Leaves alternate, closely arranged, simple (resembling spinach leaf); ochrea loose, membranous, ca. 2 cm long, soon caducous; petiole 2-30 cm long, glabrous, reddish at base; leaf blade ovate, ovate-oblong or triangular, 3-15 cm x 1.5-10 cm, base mostly truncate to subcordate attenuating into petiole, apex obtuse or acute, margin usually entire Flowers small, unisexual present in medium- sized ( 2-3 cm x 2-3 cm ), +/- circular heads; heads axillary or on terminal flexible inflorescence, few in number arranged distantly; male and female flowers mixed in heads, occasionally heads with flowers of one sex. Male Flowers: Pedicel 1-3.5 mm long. Perianth segments 6, in 2 whorls of 3 each, free, connate only at base, 2-2.5 mm long, subequal, green, glabrous. Stamens 4-6, inserted at base of perianth, free; filaments ca. 1 mm long; anthers oblong-ovate, ca. 1 mm long, yellowish, bithecous, dehiscence longitudinal by slits. Pistillode absent. Female Flowers: Subsessile. Perianth urceolate, perianth segments 6, connate, in 2 whorls of 3 each; outer tepals deeply perforated with usually 6 small pits in 2 longitudinal rows above the rim, outer tepals ending in spreading to reflexed spines and inner tepals erect, linear-lanceolate, apex acute, non-spinescent. Ovary superior, 3-gonous, reddish, unilocular with 1 basal ovule; styles 3, free; stigmas fimbriate. Achenes enclosed in indurated perianth, fruiting perianth 5-6 mm x 5-6 mm, spines reddish or orange, stout, spreading to reflexed, 1.5-2 mm long, base broad. Achenes 4-5 mm x 3-4 mm, brown, not winged, 3-gonous, shiny, glabrous.

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