Rumex

...A perennial plant of the Polygonaceae family (illustration) that has a sour taste due to the oxalic acid in its stems and leaves. The Japanese name means "sour leaves," and the alternative name "sukampo" is probably a variation of this. Children sometimes eat the young shoots. The underground stem is thick and short, with many branching roots. The basal leaves are soft, oblong, 5-10 cm long, have petioles, grow in clusters, and turn reddish purple in early spring. The stem is cylindrical and upright, with the upper leaves clasping the stem, 30-80 cm tall, and the leaf sheaths are membranous. Dioecious, with the female plant being taller and having more inflorescences. ...

*Some of the terminology that mentions "Rumex" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…茎葉にシュウ酸を含むため，酸味のあるタデ科多年草（イラスト）。和名は〈酸い葉〉を意味し，別名のスカンポもその転化であろう。子どもがときどき若芽を食べる。地下茎は太く短く，多くの根を分岐する。根出葉は軟らかく，長楕円形で長さ5～10cm，葉柄をもち群がって生え，早春には紅紫色を帯びる。茎は円柱形で直立し，上部の葉は茎を抱き，高さ30～80cm，葉鞘（ようしよう）は膜質。雌雄異株で雌株の方が高く，花序の数も多い。…

※「Rumex」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報