The docks and sorrels,

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

''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 wid ...

herbs 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 ''Fagopy ...

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. ''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

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 Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphology (biology), Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of sperma ...

. 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 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 ''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 Nobility#Ennoblement, ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalise ...

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 *''

'' 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'' 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'' 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'' 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'' Thouars – wedgeleaf dock *'' Rumex fueginus'' Phil. *'' Rumex gangotrianus'' Aswal & S.K.Srivast. *'' Rumex garipensis'' Meisn. *'' Rumex giganteus'' 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'' 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'' 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'' L. – wood dock, redvein dock *'' Rumex scutatus'' 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'' Fisch. & C.A.Mey. *'' Rumex spathulatus'' Thunb. *'' Rumex spinosus'' L. *'' Rumex spiralis'' Small – winged dock *'' Rumex stenoglottis'' Rech.f. *'' Rumex stenophyllus'' 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 (''

'') 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 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 ''

'', common sorrel '' Rumex acetosa'', and French sorrel '' Rumex scutatus''), 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 herbs for their acidic taste. In the United Kingdom, ''

'' 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.

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 Silig ...

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 = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

. One

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 populou ...

. This fossil fruit is similar to the fruits of the extant species '' Rumex maritimus'' and ''Rumex ucranicus'' which both have

records from the

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58Pleistocene The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the ''Ice age'') is the geological 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 finally confirmed in ...

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 subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

.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.

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