Biological flora of Central Europe: Rumex alpinus L.

Rumex alpinus L. (Polygonaceae) is a rhizomatous perennial plant inhabiting stream banks, spring areas, nutrient-rich and mesic to wet abandoned pastures and meadows. It is native in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe but its current distribution has been partly affected by its utilisation as a vegetable and a medicinal herb in the past. This article reviews the literature on the taxonomy, morphology, population biology, genetics, chemistry, physiology and ecology of this species.