Acetosa sagittata

Other Names: Rambling Dock, Potato Vine, Rumex sagittatus

Introduced From: South Africa

Family: Polygonaceae, 800 species in 35 genera worldwide, 10 genera in Australia. Includes buckwheat and rhubarb.

Habitat: Wastelands and disturbed sites. Gardens, roadsides, coastal sand dunes. Often trails over shrubs and fences.

Uses: Leaves edible cooked. Young stems may also be used (cooked).

References: Low (Weeds), Richardson and Shepherd, Wikipedia

About Turkey Rhubarb

According to Tim Low, no-one seems to realise this represents one of the best available sources of wild greens. In Java it is sometimes cultivated as a vegetable. It used to be in the Rumex (Dock) genus. The species name sagittata comes from the Latin word for arrow, since the leaves are arrow shaped. It has tubers that may be up to 10cm long.

Acetosa sagittata, Turkey Rhubarb. Watsons Bay, NSW.

Acetosa sagittata, Turkey Rhubarb. Watsons Bay, NSW.

See Also

Australian Mammals
Australian Birds
Australian Reptiles
Australian Frogs
Australian Fish
Australian Spiders and Their Faces

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