[6] The authority of the accepted description, Rumex palustris, was James Edward Smith, in Fl.

[7][8] Rumex palustris can be found in wetlands such as moist meadows, marshes, lake shores and the shallow edges of streams.

[13] Most studies involve flood-resistance in Rumex palustris due to its unique mechanism to elongate in an effort to outgrow submergence.

[14][15] When flooded, Rumex palustris is able to elongate its petioles in order to emerge from the surface of the water.

[16] This mechanism is a beneficial adaptation for Rumex palustris to survive its wetland habitat and is being studied for research on plant stress resistance.