Acetosa: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 

	stems arising from a thick taproot; NOT [stems arising from slender rhizomes]
	stems stout; NOT [stems slender]
	leaves hastate or sagittate at base; NOT [leaves cuneate, rounded, truncate or cordate at base]
	flowers unisexual, plants dioecious; NOT [flowers perfect or mostly so]
	valves much larger than achene; NOT [valves equalling the achene, or a little larger, and closely investing it]
	valves NOT greatly enlarging in fruit and becoming bright pink

Rumex: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

	NOT [dwarf annual, leaves sub-opposite, calyx 3-parted, stamens 3]
	ocreae (united, sheathing, papery stipules) present
	leaves lanceolate; NOT [leaves reniform]
	flowers NOT in involucrate clusters; NOT [flower clusters subtended by an involucre of bracts]
	sepals 6; NOT [sepals 4], NOT [sepals 5, more or less equal]
	inner sepals large, 15-20 mm; NOT [the inner sepals 4-6 mm]
	inner sepals enclosing the fruit; NOT [inner sepals erect]
	stamens 8 or fewer; NOT [stamens 9]
	stigmas tufted
	fruit winged

Polygonaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 

	herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
	land plants; NOT [water plants]
	plants rooted in soil or water; NOT [plants arising from branches of trees]
	plants NOT parasitic on trees
	plants with more than one pair of leaves; NOT [plants with a single pair of large reniform leaves]
	leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]
	leaves with stipules
	stipules forming a sheath above nodes
	stamens and pistils in each flower; NOT [stamens or pistils in separate flowers on the same plant] (see above)