The species is common in Western and Central Europe, in the Scandinavian countries, on the Balkan Peninsula, in the Mediterranean, in Asia Minor and Iran; On the territory of Russia it is found in the European part west of the Kama and Volga, except for the northern regions and Crimea, it is present in the Caucasus.
It grows in forests, at the edges and thickets of shrubs. In human habitation settles as a ruderal and weed plant.
Botanical illustration of Jacob Sturm from the book
Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen , 1796
A perennial large plant with a powerful root and furrowed stems up to 1.5 m high, arched or drooping branches in the middle.
The basal leaves sit on long petioles, with a flat and shiny leaf blade of oblong-ovate shape, up to 25 cm and up to 12 cm wide, the ends of the leaves are blunt or slightly pointed, with a heart-shaped base. The leaves on the stems are short-leaved, oval-lanceolate.
The inflorescence is leafy, paniculate, with deviating branches. The flowers are bisexual, small, green, collected in loose whorls. Perianth consists of six oval-triangular leaves. During fruit ripening, the inner leaves become dark brown. Six stamens, pestle with three columns and racemose stigmas.
Flowering occurs July - August. The fruit is a trihedral nut.
It easily hybridizes with other sorrel species, for example, with Rumex maritimus , or with Rumex crispus .
The leaves of the plant can be used as a salad or as spinach , can be boiled. The leaf contains oxalic acid , the use of which in large quantities can be dangerous.
Dried seeds are used as a spice.
Vegetative parts can be used as medicinal raw materials.