This European plant is often cultivated in North America for food (FNA 5). It does not generally persist in the wild except in more northern states and adjacent Canada. Rafinesque (1836) listed Rumex integrifolia Raf., which might be interpreted as acetosa (M). But it is likely that the related native species, R. hastatulus Baldwin, does occur in Ky. That species is widely scattered across southeastern states, usually in disturbed areas on sandy soils (FNA 5; W).