Rumex sect. Platypodium Willkomm in H. M. Willkomm and J. M. C. Lange, Prodr. Fl. Hispan. 1: 284. 1862; Bucephalophora Pau; Rumex sect. Heterolapathum Nyman

Plants synoecious, with basal rosette of leaves usually not persistent at maturity. Stems ascending, spreading, or almost prostrate, occasionally erect. Leaf blades spatulate, lanceolate, or ovate-lanceolate, rarely rounded, base cuneate. Pedicels articulated in distal part, usually heteromorphic: some curved, swollen, and clavate, others straight, not swollen, and cylindric. Flowers normally bisexual; outer tepals not spreading; inner tepals enlarged, often heteromorphic, (1.5-)2-4(-5) mm, equaling or slightly wider and longer than achenes, margins usually dentate; tubercles very small, or absent.

Species 1: introduced; s Europe, sw Asia, n Africa; occasionally introduced in other regions.

Sometimes subg. Platypodium is recognized as a separate genus, Bucephalophora, together with other segregates from Rumex in the broad sense (see Á. Löve and B. M. Kapoor 1967).