The docks and sorrels,
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of
annual
Annual may refer to:
*Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year
** Yearbook
** Literary annual
*Annual plant
*Annual report
*Annual giving
*Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco
*Annuals (band), ...
,
biennial
Biennial means (an event) lasting for two years or occurring every two years. The related term biennium is used in reference to a period of two years.
In particular, it can refer to:
* Biennial plant, a plant which blooms in its second year and th ...
, and
perennial
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...
herb
In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...
s in the
buckwheat
Buckwheat (''Fagopyrum esculentum''), or common buckwheat, is a flowering plant in the knotweed family Polygonaceae cultivated for its grain-like seeds and as a cover crop. The name "buckwheat" is used for several other species, such as '' Fago ...
family,
Polygonaceae
The Polygonaceae are a family of flowering plants known informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—buckwheat family in the United States. The name is based on the genus '' Polygonum'', and was first used by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1 ...
.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribution, and introduced species growing in the few places where the genus is not native.
[
Some are nuisance ]weed
A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...
s (and are sometimes called dockweed or dock weed), but some are grown for their edible leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
. ''Rumex'' species are used as food plants by the larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
...
e of a number of Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
, and are the only host plants of ''Lycaena rubidus
''Lycaena rubidus'', the ruddy copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the western mountains of North America.[taproot
A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Typically a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, is tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the taproo ...]
s. The fleshy to leathery leaves form a basal rosette at the root. The basal leaves may be different from those near the inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...
. They may or may not have stipule
In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...
s. Minor leaf veins occur. The leaf blade margins are entire or crenate.
The usually inconspicuous flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s are carried above the leaves in clusters. The fertile flowers are mostly hermaphrodite
In reproductive biology, a hermaphrodite () is an organism that has both kinds of reproductive organs and can produce both gametes associated with male and female sexes.
Many Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrate ...
s, 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
''Rumex acetosella'', commonly known as red sorrel, sheep's sorrel, field sorrel and sour weed, is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family Polygonaceae. Native to Eurasia and the British Isles, the plant and its subspecies are commo ...
'') 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.
Taxonomy
The genus was first described by Carl Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
in 1753. Within the family Polygonaceae, it is placed in the subfamily Polygonoideae
Polygonoideae is a subfamily of plants in the family Polygonaceae. It includes a number of plants that can be highly invasive, such as Japanese knotweed, ''Reynoutria japonica'', and its hybrid with '' R. sachalinensis'', ''R.'' × ''bohemica ...
. The genus ''Emex'' was separated from ''Rumex'' by Francisco Campderá
Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the masculine given name '' Franciscus''.
Nicknames
In Spanish, people with the name Francisco are sometimes nicknamed " Paco". San Francisco de Asís was known as ''Pater Comunitatis'' (father o ...
in 1819 on the basis that it was polygamous (i.e. had both bisexual and unisexual flowers on the same plant). However, some species of ''Rumex'' subg. ''Acetosa'' also have this characteristic, and most other features that are supposed to distinguish ''Emex'' are found in species of ''Rumex''. Accordingly, in 2015, Schuster et al. demoted ''Emex'' to a subgenus of ''Rumex''.
Within the subfamily Polygonoideae, ''Rumex'' is placed in the tribe Rumiceae, along with the two genera ''Oxyria
Oxyria is a genus of plants in the family Polygonaceae with three accepted species . It has a circumboreal distribution.
Description
Species of ''Oxyria'' are perennial herbaceous plants or weakly shrubby. They may have rhizomes. Their stems are ...
'' and ''Rheum
Rheum (; from Greek: ῥεῦμα ''rheuma'' 'a flowing, rheum') is a thin mucus naturally discharged from the eyes, nose, or mouth, often during sleep (cf. mucopurulent discharge).Amodio, Aime"Where Do Eye Boogers Come From?" Families.com bl ...
''. It is most closely related to ''Rheum'', which includes Rhubarb.[
]
Species
, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species. A large number of hybrids are also recorded.
*''Rumex abyssinicus
''Rumex abyssinicus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae
The Polygonaceae are a family of flowering plants known informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—buckwheat family in the United States. The name is ba ...
'' Jacq.
*'' Rumex acetosa'' L. – sorrel, common sorrel, garden sorrel, narrow-leaved dock, spinach dock
*''Rumex acetosella
''Rumex acetosella'', commonly known as red sorrel, sheep's sorrel, field sorrel and sour weed, is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family Polygonaceae. Native to Eurasia and the British Isles, the plant and its subspecies are commo ...
'' L. – sheep's sorrel, common sheep sorrel, field sorrel, red sorrel
*''Rumex aegyptiacus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' L.
*''Rumex aeroplaniformis
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Eig
*''Rumex albescens
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Hillebr. – Oahu dock
*'' Rumex alcockii'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex algeriensis'' Barratte & Murb.
*'' Rumex alpinus'' L. – alpine dock, monk's rhubarb
*'' Rumex altissimus'' Alph.Wood – pale dock, smooth dock, peach-leaf dock
*'' Rumex alveolatus'' Losinsk.
*''Rumex amanus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex amurensis'' F.Schmidt ex Maxim
*'' Rumex andinus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex angulatus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex angustifolius'' Campd.
*'' Rumex aquaticiformis'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex aquaticus'' L. – western dock, Scottish dock
*''Rumex aquitanicus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex arcticus'' Trautv.
*'' Rumex arcuatoramosus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex argentinus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex arifolius'' All.
*'' Rumex aristidis'' Coss.
*'' Rumex armenus'' K.Koch
*'' Rumex atlanticus'' Coss. ex Batt.
*'' Rumex aureostigmatica'' Kom.
*''Rumex azoricus
''Rumex azoricus'' is a species of sorrel in the family Polygonaceae. It is endemic to the Azores, Portugal.
Distribution and habitat
''Rumex azoricus'' has been observed in five of the nine Azorean islands, specifically in São Miguel, Tercei ...
'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex balcanicus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex beringensis'' Jurtzev & V.V.Petrovsky – Bering Sea dock
*'' Rumex bidens'' R.Br.
*''Rumex bipinnatus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' L.f.
*'' Rumex bithynicus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex brachypodus'' Rech.f.
*''Rumex brasiliensis
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Link
*'' Rumex britannica'' L.
*'' Rumex brownii'' Campd. – Browne's dock
*'' Rumex bryhnii'' Snogerup
*''Rumex bucephalophorus
''Rumex bucephalophorus'', also known as horned, red, or ruby dock is an annual herbaceous plant that is part of the family Polygonaceae. The scientific name ''Rumex bucephalophorus'' was first described and published by Linnaeus in 1753 in ''Spe ...
'' L. – red dock
*'' Rumex californicus'' Rech.f.
*''Rumex caucasicus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex chalepensis'' Mill.
*'' Rumex chrysocarpos'' Moris
*''Rumex confertus
''Rumex confertus'' (Russian dock) is a flowering plant species in the family Polygonaceae
The Polygonaceae are a family of flowering plants known informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—buckwheat family in the United States. The na ...
'' Willd. – Asiatic dock
*''Rumex conglomeratus
''Rumex conglomeratus'', known as clustered dock and sharp dock, is a plant of the family Polygonaceae
The Polygonaceae are a family of flowering plants known informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—buckwheat family in the United Stat ...
'' Murray – clustered dock, sharp dock
*'' Rumex cordatus'' Poir.
*''Rumex costaricensis
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribu ...
'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex crassus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex crispellus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex crispissimus'' Kuntze
*'' Rumex crispus'' L. – curled dock, curly dock, yellow dock, sour dock, narrow dock, garden patience, narrow-leaved dock
*'' Rumex cristatus'' DC.
*''Rumex crystallinus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Lange – shiny dock
*''Rumex cuneifolius
''Rumex cuneifolius'' is a flowering plant species in the family Polygonaceae
The Polygonaceae are a family of flowering plants known informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—buckwheat family in the United States. The name is based ...
'' Campd.
*''Rumex cyprius
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Murb.
*'' Rumex darwinianus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex densiflorus'' Osterh. – dense-flower dock, dense-flowered dock
*''Rumex dentatus
''Rumex dentatus'' is a species of flowering plant in the Polygonaceae, knotweed family known by the common names toothed dock and Aegean dock. It is native to parts of Eurasia and North Africa, and it is widely known elsewhere as an introduced s ...
'' L. – toothed dock
*'' Rumex dregeanus'' Meisn.
*'' Rumex drummondii'' Meisn.
*'' Rumex dumosus'' A.Cunn. ex Meisn. – wiry dock
*'' Rumex elbrusensis'' Boiss.
*'' Rumex ellipticus'' Greene
*'' Rumex ephedroides'' Bornm.
*'' Rumex evenkiensis'' Elis.
*'' Rumex fascicularis'' Small
*'' Rumex fischeri'' Rchb.
*'' Rumex flexicaulis'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex flexuosus'' Sol. ex G.Forst.
*'' Rumex floridanus'' Meisn.
*''Rumex frutescens
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of Annual plant, annual, Biennial plant, biennial, and perennial plant, perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennia ...
'' Thouars – wedgeleaf dock
*'' Rumex fueginus'' Phil.
*'' Rumex gangotrianus'' Aswal & S.K.Srivast.
*'' Rumex garipensis'' Meisn.
*''Rumex giganteus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' W.T.Aiton – pawale
*'' Rumex ginii'' Jahandiez & Maire
*'' Rumex gmelinii'' Turcz. ex Ledeb.
*'' Rumex gracilescens'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex graminifolius'' Georgi ex Lamb. – grassleaf sorrel
*'' Rumex hastatulus'' Baldwin – heartwing dock, heartwing sorrel
*''Rumex hastatus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribu ...
'' D.Don
*''Rumex hesperius
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Greene
*''Rumex hultenii
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Tzvelev
*''Rumex hydrolapathum
''Rumex hydrolapathum'', the great water dock, water dock, or giant water dock, is a species of perennial herbaceous plants in the genus ''Rumex'' native to fens and freshwater banks of Europe and Western Asia. It is the tallest species in the g ...
'' Huds. – great water dock
*'' Rumex hymenosepalus'' Torr. – canaigre, canaigre dock
*'' Rumex hypogaeus'' T.M.Schust. & Reveal
*'' Rumex inconspicuus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex induratus'' Boiss. & Reut.
*'' Rumex intermedius'' DC.
*''Rumex jacutensis
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribu ...
'' Kom.
*'' Rumex japonicus'' Houtt.
*'' Rumex kandavanicus'' (Rech.f.) Rech.f.
*''Rumex kerneri
''Rumex kerneri'' is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by the common name Kerner's dock. It is native to Europe. It has also been observed in California as an introduced species and roadside weed. It is a perennial herb p ...
'' Borbás – Kerner's dock
*'' Rumex komarovii'' Schischk. & Serg.
*'' Rumex krausei'' Jurtzev & V.V.Petrovsky – Krause's sorrel
*''Rumex lacustris
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Greene
*''Rumex lanceolatus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribu ...
'' Thunb.
*'' Rumex lapponicus'' (Hiitonen) Czernov
*'' Rumex lativalvis'' Meisn.
*'' Rumex leptocaulis'' Brandbyge & Rech.f.
*'' Rumex limoniastrum'' Jaub. & Spach
*'' Rumex longifolius'' DC. – dooryard dock, northern dock
*'' Rumex lorentzianus'' Lindau
*'' Rumex lunaria'' L.
*'' Rumex madaio'' Makino
*'' Rumex maderensis'' Lowe
*''Rumex magellanicus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Campd.
*''Rumex maricola
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of Annual plant, annual, Biennial plant, biennial, and perennial plant, perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennia ...
'' J.Rémy
*'' Rumex maritimus'' L. – golden dock, bristle dock, seashore dock
*''Rumex marschallianus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Rchb.
*'' Rumex mexicanus'' Meisn.
*'' Rumex microcarpus'' Campd.
*'' Rumex nebroides'' Campd.
*'' Rumex neglectus'' Kirk
*'' Rumex nematopodus'' Rech.f. – Arizona dock
*''Rumex nepalensis
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Spreng.
*''Rumex nervosus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Vahl
*''Rumex nivalis
''Rumex nivalis'', commonly called snow dock, is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family. It is endemic to Europe, where it grows mainly in snowbeds. It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants.
The plant was first discov ...
'' Hegetschw.
*'' Rumex oblongifolius'' Tolm.
*'' Rumex obovatus'' Danser – tropical dock
*''Rumex obtusifolius
''Rumex obtusifolius'', commonly known as bitter dock, broad-leaved dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf, dockens or butter dock, is a perennial plant in the family Polygonaceae. It is native to Europe, but is found on all temperate continents. It i ...
'' L. – broad-leaved dock, bitter dock, bluntleaf dock, butter dock
*'' Rumex occidentalis'' S.Watson
*'' Rumex occultans'' Sam.
*''Rumex olympicus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Boiss.
*''Rumex orbiculatus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribu ...
'' A.Gray – great water dock
*'' Rumex orthoneurus'' Rech.f. – Chiricahua mountain dock
*''Rumex pallidus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Bigelow – seaside dock
*''Rumex palustris
''Rumex palustris'', or marsh dock, is a plant species of the genus '' Rumex'', found in Europe. The species is a dicot belonging to the family Polygonaceae. The species epithet ''palustris'' is Latin for "of the marsh" which indicates its comm ...
'' Sm. – marsh dock
*''Rumex papilio
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Coss. & Balansa
*''Rumex papillaris
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Boiss. & Reut.
*'' Rumex paraguayensis'' D.Parodi – Paraguayan dock
*'' Rumex patagonicus'' Rech.f.
*''Rumex patientia
''Rumex patientia'', known as patience dock, garden patience, herb patience, or monk's rhubarb, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant belonging to the family Polygonaceae. In spring it is often consumed as a leaf vegetable and as a filling in ...
'' L. – patience dock, garden patience, monk's rhubarb
*''Rumex paucifolius
''Rumex paucifolius'' is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by the common name alpine sheep sorrel.
It is native to western North America from southwestern Canada to California to Colorado, where it grows in moist areas i ...
'' Nutt. – alpine sheep's sorrel, few-leaved dock, meadow dock
*'' Rumex paulsenianus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex persicarioides'' L.
*'' Rumex peruanus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex pictus'' Forssk.
*'' Rumex polycarpus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex ponticus'' E.H.L.Krause
*''Rumex popovii
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Pachom.
*''Rumex praecox
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Rydb.
*'' Rumex pseudonatronatus'' (Borbás) Murb. – field dock
*'' Rumex pseudoxyria'' (Tolm.) Khokhr.
*''Rumex pulcher
''Rumex pulcher'' is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by the common name fiddle dock. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa and it can be found elsewhere, including parts of North America, as an introduced species and ...
'' L. – fiddle dock
*''Rumex punjabensis
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' K.M.Vaid & H.B.Naithani
*'' Rumex pycnanthus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex rectinervius'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex rhodesius'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex romassa'' Remy
*''Rumex roseus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribu ...
'' L.
*'' Rumex rossicus'' Murb.
*''Rumex rugosus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Campd.
*'' Rumex rupestris'' Le Gall – shore dock
*'' Rumex ruwenzoriensis'' Chiov.
*''Rumex sagittatus
''Rumex sagittatus'', Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Acetosa sagittata'', commonly known as turkey rhubarb or rambling dock or potato vine, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to southern Africa, which has become a weed in Australia and New Zea ...
'' Thunb.
*''Rumex salicifolius
''Rumex salicifolius'' is a species of flowering perennial plant in the knotweed family known by the common names willow dock and willow-leaved dock. It is native to much of western North America, and more specifically, in southern and central p ...
'' Weinm. – willow dock, willow-leaved dock
*''Rumex sanguineus
''Rumex sanguineus'', commonly known as wood dock, bloody dock or red-veined dock, is a perennial flowering plant species in the family Polygonaceae. ''Rumex sanguineus'' is a dicot and can be observed in Europe with at least two varieties.
Desc ...
'' L. – wood dock, redvein dock
*''Rumex scutatus
''Rumex scutatus'' (syn. ''Rumex alpestris'') is a plant in the buckwheat family, used as a culinary herb. Its common names include French sorrel, buckler sorrel, shield-leaf sorrel, and sometimes the culinary name "green-sauce".
As a culinary ...
'' L. – French sorrel, leaf-shield sorrel
*'' Rumex sellowianus'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex sibiricus'' Hultén – Siberian dock
*''Rumex similans
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex simpliciflorus'' Murb.
*'' Rumex skottsbergii'' O.Deg. & I.Deg. – lava dock
*''Rumex songaricus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
*'' Rumex spathulatus'' Thunb.
*'' Rumex spinosus'' L.
*'' Rumex spiralis'' Small – winged dock
*'' Rumex stenoglottis'' Rech.f.
*''Rumex stenophyllus
''Rumex stenophyllus'' is a species of flowering plant in the Polygonaceae, knotweed family known by the common name narrow-leaf dock. It is native to Eurasia and it can be found in parts of North America as an introduced species and roadside we ...
'' Ledeb.
*'' Rumex subarcticus'' Lepage
*''Rumex suffruticosus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' J.Gay ex Meisn.
*'' Rumex tenax'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex thjanschanicus'' Losinsk.
*''Rumex thyrsiflorus
''Rumex thyrsiflorus'', also known commonly as the compact dock or thyrse sorrel, is a perennial herb, which grows in meadows and wasteland in most parts of Europe. It is somewhat similar to common sorrel (''Rumex acetosa
Sorrel (''Rumex ac ...
'' Fingerh.
*'' Rumex thyrsoides'' Desf.
*'' Rumex tmoleus'' Boiss.
*'' Rumex tolimensis'' Wedd.
*'' Rumex transitorius'' Rech.f.
*''Rumex triangulivalvis
''Rumex triangulivalvis'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Polygonaceae
The Polygonaceae are a family of flowering plants known informally as the knotweed family or smartweed—buckwheat family in the United States. Th ...
'' (Danser) Rech.f.
*''Rumex trisetifer
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Stokes
*''Rumex tuberosus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' L.
*''Rumex tunetanus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Barratte & Murb.
*'' Rumex turcomanicus'' (Rech.f.) Czerep.
*''Rumex ucranicus
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Fisch. ex Spreng.
*''Rumex ujskensis
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Rech.f.
*''Rumex uruguayensis
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' Rech.f.
*'' Rumex usambarensis'' (Engl.) Dammer
*'' Rumex utahensis'' Rech.f.
*''Rumex venosus
''Rumex venosus'' is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by the common names veiny dock, winged dock, sand dock, and wild-begonia (though it is not related to the genus ''Begonia''). While not of any particular agricultural ...
'' Pursh – veiny dock, sand dock
*'' Rumex verticillatus'' L. – swamp dock, water dock
*'' Rumex vesicarius'' L. – bladder dock
*'' Rumex violascens'' Rech.f. – violet dock
*''Rumex woodii
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
'' N.E.Br.
*'' Rumex yungningensis'' Sam.
Uses
These plants have many uses. Broad-leaved dock (''Rumex obtusifolius
''Rumex obtusifolius'', commonly known as bitter dock, broad-leaved dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf, dockens or butter dock, is a perennial plant in the family Polygonaceae. It is native to Europe, but is found on all temperate continents. It i ...
'') used to be called butter dock because its large leaves were used to wrap and conserve butter
Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 80% butterfat. It is used at room temperature as a spread, melted as a condimen ...
.
'' Rumex hymenosepalus'' has been cultivated in the Southwestern US as a source of tannin
Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.
The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'' ...
(roots contain up to 25%), for use in leather tanning, while leaves and stems are used for a mordant-free mustard-colored dye.
These plants are edible. The leaves of most species contain oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is an organic acid with the systematic name ethanedioic acid and formula . It is the simplest dicarboxylic acid. It is a white crystalline solid that forms a colorless solution in water. Its name comes from the fact that early inve ...
and tannin, and many have astringent
An astringent (sometimes called adstringent) is a chemical that shrinks or constricts body tissues. The word derives from the Latin ''adstringere'', which means "to bind fast". Calamine lotion, witch hazel, and yerba mansa, a Californian pla ...
and slightly purgative
Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation.
Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...
qualities. Some species with particularly high levels of oxalic acid are called sorrels (including sheep's sorrel ''Rumex acetosella
''Rumex acetosella'', commonly known as red sorrel, sheep's sorrel, field sorrel and sour weed, is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family Polygonaceae. Native to Eurasia and the British Isles, the plant and its subspecies are commo ...
'', common sorrel '' Rumex acetosa'', and French sorrel ''Rumex scutatus
''Rumex scutatus'' (syn. ''Rumex alpestris'') is a plant in the buckwheat family, used as a culinary herb. Its common names include French sorrel, buckler sorrel, shield-leaf sorrel, and sometimes the culinary name "green-sauce".
As a culinary ...
''), and some of these are grown as leaf vegetable
Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots. Leaf vegetables eaten raw in a salad can be called salad gre ...
s or garden herb
In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...
s for their acidic taste.
In the United Kingdom, ''Rumex obtusifolius
''Rumex obtusifolius'', commonly known as bitter dock, broad-leaved dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf, dockens or butter dock, is a perennial plant in the family Polygonaceae. It is native to Europe, but is found on all temperate continents. It i ...
'' is often found growing near stinging nettles, owing to both species favouring a similar environment, and there is a widely held belief that the underside of the dock leaf, squeezed to extract a little juice, can be rubbed on the skin to counteract the itching caused by brushing against a nettle plant. This home remedy
Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...
is not supported by any science, although it is possible that the act of rubbing may act as a distracting counterstimulation
Counterstimulation is a treatment for pain based on distraction.
A basic example is the practice of rubbing a fresh bruise, so that attention is paid to the sense of touch and pressure, rather than to the pain of the injury. Liniment and "medica ...
, or that belief in the dock's effect may provide a placebo effect
A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like Saline (medicine), saline), sham surgery, and other procedures.
In general ...
.
In traditional Austrian medicine, ''R. alpinus ''leaves and roots have been used internally for treatment of viral infections.
Rumex nepalensis
The docks and sorrels, genus ''Rumex'', are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distrib ...
is also has a variety of medicinal uses in the Greater Himalayas, including Sikkim
Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
in Northeastern India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
.
Fossil record
Several fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...
fruits of ''Rumex'' sp. have been described from middle Miocene strata of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg
Silkeborg () is a Danish town with a population of 49,747 (1 January 2022).[Jutland
Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...]
, Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
.
One fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...
fruit of a ''Rumex'' species has been extracted from a borehole
A borehole is a narrow shaft bored in the ground, either vertically or horizontally. A borehole may be constructed for many different purposes, including the extraction of water ( drilled water well and tube well), other liquids (such as petrol ...
sample of the Middle Miocene fresh water deposits in Nowy Sacz Basin, West Carpathians
The Western Carpathians are a mountain range and geomorphological province that forms the western part of the Carpathian Mountains.
The mountain belt stretches from the Low Beskids range of the Eastern Carpathians along the border of Poland wit ...
, Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
. This fossil fruit is similar to the fruits of the extant species '' Rumex maritimus'' and ''Rumex ucranicus'' which both have fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...
records from the Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58[Pleistocene
The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the ''Ice age'') is the geological Epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was fina ...](_blank)
of Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
.[Macroscopic plant remains from the freshwater Miocene of the Nowy Sącz Basin (West Carpathians, Poland) by Maria Łańcucka-Środoniowa, Acta Palaeobotanica 1979 20 (1): 3-117.]
Nutrition
Nutrition information is shown in the infobox on the right.
See also
* Antipruritic
References
External links
Rumex acetosella
Missouri Botanical Garden's efloras.org.
Identification and edible parts of Rumex spp.
Video:- Dock (Rumex) As Wild Edible Food Part 1 , Frank Cook
*
*
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q157264, from2=Q15926219, from3=Q32252794, from4=Q32254567, from5=Q1632348, from6=Q15928071
Polygonaceae genera
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Taxa described in 1753