Polygonaceae FAMILY

Rumex brownii

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

Plants can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, which is what gives the leaves of many members of this genus an acid-lemon flavour. Perfectly alright in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since the oxalic acid can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ].

Botanical Description

Rumex brownii is a perennial plant with slender, erect stems; it can grow 50 - 80cm tall[ 365 Title Flora of New South Wales Publication Author Website http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It is cultivated locally in New Caledonia for its edible leaves[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ]. Native to mainland Australia and New Guinea, the plant has spread as a weed (probably by seed carried in clipped wool) and has become naturalized as a weed in several countries including New Zealand, Hawaii and the UK[ 305 Title Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk Publication Author Website http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeAustralia - New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria. Casual in Britain[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ].

HabitatMoist places such as the banks of creeks, often in clay soils, in the montane and sub-alpine zones[ 154 Title Flora of Victoria. Publication Author Ewart. A. J. Publisher University Press; Melbourne Year 1930 ISBN Description A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project. ]. Herbaceous understorey of woodlands, also often in disturbed habitats such as damp lawns and pastures, on various soils (loam to sandy)[ 365 Title Flora of New South Wales Publication Author Website http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants. ].