FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Oxyria dygina, mountain sorrel

Oxyria digyna; the mountain sorrel is common all over Iceland. It prefers higher altitudes where it grows on dry rocky and gravelly soils. As a sorrel the round leaves are characteristic. The first photo shows an early blooming plant. Later the bloom-stems elongate considerably.
It is a member of the Dock family (Polygonaceae).

Leaf shapes of the common sorrel species on Iceland

Rumex acetosa Rumex acetosella
   
Rumex longifolius Oxyria digyna

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A brief introduction to common Iceland plants
Text & Photographs by Dick Vuijk
- unless stated otherwise
Goose Foot (Chenopodiaceae) and Dock (Polygonaceae) families,
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Click on thumbnails or latin names to get information on the species.

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Show other photo's of the Mountain Sorrel:
Further developed plant
Close-up of inflorescence
reload first photo of early blooming plant