Rumex patientia subsp. orientalis

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 pies in Southern Europe, especially in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is also used in Romania in spring broths or sarmale.

Description

A herb.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, but do contain oxalic acid, so should not be eaten in excess (e.g. every day). The leaves can be used raw in salads, cooked in soups and stews, or layered in baked dishes like lasagna. The leaves are high in minerals, and can be harvested at any time.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are used in chutney.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It grows in cold desert regions in north India.

Where It Grows

Asia, Himalayas, India,

Synonyms

Also Known As

Shommena, Soma

References (1)

• Ballabh, B., et al, 2007, Raw edible plants of cold desert Ladakh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 6(1) pp 182-184

More from Polygonaceae

🌱

Fagopyrum pilus

Fagopyrum spp.

Perennial Buckwheat

Fagopyrum tataricum

Tartary buckwheat, Indian buckwheat

Fallopia convolvulus

Black bindweed, Climbing buckwheat

Fallopia dumetorum

Climbing False Buckwheat, Desert Knotgrass

Fallopia japonica

Japanese knotweed, Mexican-bamboo