410705 Rumex aquaticus L.
- L., Sp. Pl.: 336 (1753). Lectotype (LINN): Europe. Herb. Linn. 464.23 (Jonsell and Jarvis 1994: 154).
2n=
(1) 120 (12x). - Europe (N), Russia (NW, NE). - Löve and Löve (1975c, Sweden for subsp. aquaticus, near Murmansk for subsp. protractus, Kolguev for subsp. insularis), see below.
(2) 140 (14x). - Europe, Russia. - At least four reports.
Löve (1986) 'corrected' the report of Löve and Löve (1975c) for subsp. aquaticus, subsp. insularis, and subsp. protractus from 2n = 140 to 2n = 120 after "re-staining and re-inspection of the slides". These corrected numbers are not in accordance with the number reported both previously and subsequently from this species, even if they are not improbable.
Not included: Reports of 2n = >100 and ca. 128 from southern Siberia (Belaeva and Siplivinsky 1976, for R. protractus). Fedorov (1969) referred two reports of 2n = ca. 200.
Geography: European - Asian.
Notes: Rumex aquaticus is polymorphic but a division into subspecific taxa is disputed. Tolmachev (1966b) recognized three subspecies for the Russian Arctic: the mainly European subsp. aquaticus, the eastern European and Asian subsp. protractus, and the local northeastern European Russian subsp. insularis. Subspecies protractus is reported to differ from subsp. aquaticus in being smaller, with narrower inflorescence with shorter branches, smaller inner perianth segments, and blades less distinctly cordate at base. Tzvelev commented that Russian botanists currently prefer to include subsp. protractus in subsp. aquaticus. Subspecies insularis Tolm. is even smaller than subsp. protractus with relatively broader blades. It is one of several low rank local taxa proposed from the Russian arctic islands of Kolguev, Vaigach, and Novaya Zemlya. These areas are assumed to have been ice-covered during most parts of the last glaciation. Local taxa there must have a short history, less than 15,000 years. Tolmachev (1966b) commented about this taxon: "Could not our subspecies insularis be the result of hybridization between R. aquaticus and R. arcticus? Such a possibility should at any rate be considered." Tolmachev described its features as intermediate. Sekretareva (2004) reported subsp. protractus to be the native race in the arctic parts of Russia west to the Murman area, subsp. aquaticus as adventive only in the Arctic, and she omitted subsp. insularis.
Higher Taxa
- Rumex [4107,genus]