the usually inconspicuous flowers are carried above the leaves in clusters. the fertile flowers are mostly hermaphrodites, or they may be functionally male or female. the flowers and seeds grow on long clusters at the top of a stalk emerging from the basal rosette; in many species, the flowers are green, but in some (such as sheep's sorrel, "rumex acetosella") the flowers and their stems may be brick-red. each seed is a three-sided achene, often with a round tubercle on one or all three sides.