Search / Plant Profile / Rumex orthoneurus

Plant Profile

Blumer's Dock (Rumex orthoneurus)

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Polygonaceae
State: AZ, NM
Nature Serve ID: 161236
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 05/28/1986

Description:

This species is a long-lived herbaceous perennial plant. If can grow to a height of 2 meters (6.6 ft) and produces oblong, semi-succulent basal leaves that are large (up to 45 cm (18 in) long and 18 cm (7 in) wide). Flowers appear from late July to mid-August on plants that are over one or two feet tall, and are typical of species in the buckwheat family because they lack petals. The inflorescence itself is a large, narrow panicle that sits on the upper half of a tall stalk. Seeds are produced in late august. (Arizona Fish and Game Department 1999) This species was proposed for federal protection in 1998, but genetic studies and surveys resolved some taxonomic questions, showing that this species had a much larger distribution than previously thought. Those taxonomic questions involved a closely related species, Rumex occidentalis, which looks similar to R. orthoneurus, but is much more widespread. Rumex occidentalis has a tap root while Rumex orthoneurus has rhizomes. (USFWS 1999)

Where is Blumer's Dock (Rumex orthoneurus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

moist, loamy soils within riparian and wetland habitat (perennial streams and springs and cienagas)HABITAT: Mid- to high-elevation wetlands with moist, organic soil adjacent to perennial springs orstreams in canyons or meadow situations.ELEVATION: 4,480 - 9,660 ft. (1,366 - 2,946 m).Conifer forests) or Interior Southwestern Riparian Deciduous Forest. Associated species include Heleniumhoopesii, sedges and rushes (Carex and Juncus species). Often sympatric with R. occidentalis.

Distribution:

Known from mountains of Arizona, New Mexico and Sonora, Mexico

States & Provinces:

Blumer's Dock can be found in Arizona, New Mexico

Which CPC Partners conserve Blumer's Dock (Rumex orthoneurus)?

The Arboretum at Flagstaff

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

Desert Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 04/07/23

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

10/08/2020

A transplant/introduction program was begun in the Tonto and Coronado National Forests using plants grown at Desert Botanical Gardens from seed collected in the Sierra Ancha Mountains. (Arizona Fish and Game Department 1999)

10/08/2020

10/08/2020

Recent genetic work indicates that Rumex orthoneurus is distinct from Rumex occidentalis, but R. orthoneurus has a much larger distribution than was previously thought. This is the reason why Rumex orthoneurus was initially proposed for federal protection in 1998, then dropped in 1999. (USFWS 1999; Mount & Floyd 1992)

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Known from mid- to high-elevation wetland habitats in Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Its habitat is limited and is heavily used for recreation (hiking and camping), and grazing. Some populations are also threatened by mining and road construction.

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Threats include habitat loss and degradation due to: Livestock grazing Recreation Water diversions and development Road construction and maintenance Wildfire (USFWS 1998)

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Several populations are known in Arizona, limited primarily to the sites in the Pinaleno, Chiricahua, Huachuca, and Sierra Ancha mountains and from Santa Fe, Lincoln, Gila, and Carson National Forests in New Mexico, 2 locations in Sonora, Mexico.

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Populations are monitored under a conservation strategy on the Coronado and Tonto National Forests in Arizona. (Brooks 1999) A transplant/introduction program was begun in the Tonto and Coronado National Forests using plants grown at Desert Botanical Gardens from seed collected in the Sierra Ancha Mountains. (Arizona Fish and Game Department 1999)

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Assess population trends with monitoring and threat assessments.