Rumex conglomeratus

Rumex conglomeratus, known as clustered dock and sharp dock, is a plant of the family Polygonaceae. It is an annual or biennial plant growing up to 100 cm high. A native of Europe, Asia and North Africa, it has also been introduced into North America.

Description

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows about 50 cm high. It branches in the lower half. The branches spread at 30°-90°. The leaf stalks of the lower leaves are as long as the blade. These lower leaves are narrowly oval and 10-25 cm long by 2.5-3.5 cm wide. The leaves get more narrow up the plant and the base becomes heart shaped. The flower is branched and has many flowers in rings. There are small leaves around the lower flowers. The fruit has oblong narrow valves with rounded ends. The nut is 1.5-2 mm long and dark brown.

Edible Uses

The leaves are cooked and eaten as greens, though they are quite bitter, becoming more so as they age. The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked — they can be ground into a powder and added to flours for making bread, biscuits, and similar foods, though they are small and fiddly to harvest.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are cooked and eaten as greens. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. They are fried with eggs.

Medicinal Uses

The root is antiscorbutic and astringent. An infusion taken internally is used to treat scurvy and as a general blood cleanser, and is also useful in treating bleeding. Externally, the root infusion can be made into an ointment for cutaneous eruptions. The root is harvested in early spring and dried for later use. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of various skin diseases.

Known Hazards

Plants can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, which is what gives the leaves of many members of this genus an acid-lemon flavour. Perfectly alright in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since the oxalic acid can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp pastures. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, Colombia, Crete, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Europe*, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Himalayas, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mediterranean*, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, USA, Venezuela, Yugoslavia,

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils but prefers a deep fertile moderately heavy soil that is humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained and a position in full-sun or part shade. This species is often confused with R. sanguineus.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring directly in situ. Can also be propagated by division in spring.

Other Uses

Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots of many species in this genus without the need for a mordant.

Other Information

Leaves are sold in local markets.

Notes

There are about 200 Rumex species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Eksikulak, Eksimek, Ghvalo, Kuzukulagi, Labada, Lengua de vaca, Romaza, Tirso, Tirsik, Vinagrera, Yabani ispanak

References (25)

• Caballero, J. N., & Mapes, C. S., 1985, Gathering and Subsistence Patterns among the P'urhepecha Indians of Mexico. J. Ethnol. 5(1): 31-47
• Cordero, S. E., Abello, L. A., & Galvez, F. L., 2017, Plantas silvestres comestibles y medicinales de Chile y otras partes del mundo. CORMA p 232
• Curtis, W.M., 1993, The Student's Flora of Tasmania. Part 3 St David's Park Publishing, Tasmania, p 585
• Dashorst, G.R.M., and Jessop, J.P., 1998, Plants of the Adelaide Plains & Hills. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium. p 52
• Dogan, Y., et al, 2015, Of the importance of a leaf: the ethnobotany of sarma in Turkey and the Balkans. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 11:56

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